The lunar orbiter laser altimeter (LOLA) on NASA's lunar reconnaissance orbiter (LRO) mission

Abstract

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, scheduled to launch in October 2008, will provide a precise global lunar topographic map using laser altimetry. LOLA uses short pulses from a single laser through a Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) to produce a five-beam pattern that illuminates the lunar surface. For each beam, LOLA measures the time of flight (range), pulse spreading (surface roughness), and transmit/return energy (surface reflectance). LOLA will produce a high-resolution global topographic model and global geodetic framework that enables precise targeting, safe landing, and surface mobility to carry out exploratory activities. In addition, it will characterize the polar illumination environment, and image permanently shadowed polar regions of the lunar surface to identify possible locations of surface ice crystals in shadowed polar craters.