"NASA's Precision Lunar Tracking: The Power of Simple Technology"
NASA is using Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to accurately determine the locations of lunar landers as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. LRAs are small, lightweight, and inexpensive devices that reflect laser light, allowing orbiters or landers to locate them on the Moon. These LRAs act as markers for navigation aids and can be used for precision docking and range-finding, even in pitch-dark areas close to permanently shadowed regions near the lunar South Pole. As more LRAs are deployed, our ability to gauge the location of key landers and points of interest on the Moon will improve, aiding in scientific exploration and future human missions.