Challenges and progress with the development of
a Lunar Laser Ranger for South Africa
Ludwig Combrinck
Roelf Botha
ludwig@hartrao.ac.za
Space Geodesy Programme
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
In collaboration with Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur
18th International Workshop on Laser Ranging
- Pursuing Ultimate Accuracy & Creating New Synergies 11-15 November 2013 Fujiyoshida, Japan
Space Geodesy at HartRAO2 VLBI antennas, VLBI2010 antenna
SLR, VLBI, GNSS, DORIS,
Geophysical instruments….now LLRconstruction
in development starting 2014
VLBI2010 2014-2016
MOBLAS-6, part of NASA SLR network, 100 mJ,
200 pico-second pulse, precision about 1.5 cm
Cannot do Lunar Laser Ranging, system too weak
and not designed for LLR
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No LLR currently in Southern Hemisphere;
The SA LLR will be part of the GGOS network
and part of the NASA SLR network
•
•
•
A Southern
Hemisphere LLR
will strengthen
the geometry of
the LLR network
and should
improve the
Apache point
determination of
the orientation
of the Moon
A dual system
S/LLR will
provide added
coverage of SLR
data in an area
very sparsely
covered
Active LLR system
Currently 4
In development LLR system
active LLR
The concept of an LLR for the southern Hemisphere was discussed at the13th
systems, 2 in
development
International ILRS Workshop (October 2002) in Washington at an LLR breakaway
meeting, where community support was given in principle. I had previously
discussed the idea with Etienne Samain (OCA, France). Originally I had tried t o
obtain use of a 30” telescope at Sutherland, South Africa, proposal at SAAO meeting
26 April 2003.
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Removed 30 Aug 2005
Ex-Observatoire de la Cote d’Azur 1-m SLR telescope
FTLRS
1-m SLR
LLR
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Overall design concept is
software-centric
Telescope
and housing
subsystem
On-site data
evaluation
and
processing
Central
Computer
Control
LLR
Software
External
inputs,
remote
access,
data links
Safety
(interrupts,
aircraft,
smoke/fire)
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Detection
and timing
Hardware
control and
monitoring
Laser
subsystem
5
Software design; shared
memory concept
LLRSteer
LLRServoControl
Microprocessor
software
Dynamic
Data
Exchange
Hardware
Control
MS Excel
MS Excel
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Telescope
housing
•2.5 minutes
to open and
move away
•Can be
dismantled
and moved to
final location
•Large
enough to
allow
maintenance
access via
crane
•All metal
construction
•Steel
reinforced
massive
concrete floor
•Housing runs
on tracks via
electrical
motors
•1 ton crane
to remove
gearbox and
instruments
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‘Temporary foundation’
• Telescope
housed in runoff enclosure
• Crane to assist
in disassembly
and
refurbishment
• Totally nuts and
bolts
construction to
facilitate future
removal to
appropriate site
• Stable and
massive
foundation for
tests
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50 cubic metres of concrete…
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Run-off enclosure on steel tracks
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Tie to ITRF via GNSS
Mount installed 2 June 2011
Much restoration work ahead!
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Gearboxes were removed,
disassembled, refurbished, modern oil
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Tube has been restored
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All panels and Az-El mount repainted
with heat reflecting paint
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Laser system by Cybioms Corporation
100 mJ, 20 Hz, <80 ps; 1KHz, 0.5 mJa
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•Dual servo control system, all software
•in-house (or rather late-at-night)
•Micro-processor controlled
functions
Testbed 12.5 cm f12.5 refractor (i.e. what my lunch times are spent on)
Main and secondary to be re-aluminized and coated
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Control centre based on 12 m
shipping container; clean air filters
• Located next
to MOBLAS-6
• Curved roof to
provide shade
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Control centre designed for desert conditions
• Insulation
panels fitted
externally and
internally
• Rubberised
floor
• Dedicated air
conditioner in
laser room
• Positive air
pressure to
keep dust out
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UPS 20 KVA
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Control room
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Project completion 2015? 2016?
Where will the system be located?
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Thank you!
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the LOC for a fantastic workshop!
Projects such as these depend to a large extent on international collaboration. We specifically thank OCA
(France), NASA (USA) and Cybioms Corporation (USA).
Funding received from the National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa, towards this project is
appreciated. This work is based on research supported by NRF grant IFR2011041500034.
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