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Lunar Laser Ranging: Consistent modelling for geodetic and further scientific applications

It was July 20, 1969 when the first retro-reflector for Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) was deployed on the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew. Now for almost 40 years LLR is carried out to measure the distance between Earth and Moon. With this space geodetic technique, several Earth orientation parameters (EOP), like nutation, precession rate, polar motion and relativistic precession can be determined. It contributes also considerably to the long-term combined EOP series. Properties of the Earth-Moon system (e.g., libration, station and reflector coordinates, lunar orbit, tidal acceleration) can be studied with high accuracy, as well as relativistic quantities (e.g., variations of gravitational constant, metric parameters) and corresponding predictions (e.g., equivalence principle, geodetic precession).
In this project, LLR modelling and processing shall be further improved and updated to reach the same accuracy level as the other space geodetic techniques being able to consistently compare and combine results like nutation coefficients with results of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). After the model updates, Newtonian effects and relativistic predictions can be investigated with high accuracy.

Involved institutions:

• Institut für Erdmessung IfE, Universität Hannover
• Forschungseinrichtung Satellitengeodäsie FESG, TU München

Scientists / Staff:

• Prof. Dr. Jürgen Müller, Institut für Erdmessung IfE
  Tel.: +49 511 762 3362, E-Mail: mueller (at) ife.uni-hannover.de
• Liliane Biskupek, Institut für Erdmessung IfE
  Tel.: +49 511 762 5784, E-Mail: biskupek (at) ife.uni-hannover.de
• Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schreiber, Forschungseinrichtung Satellitengeodäsie FESG
  Tel.: +49 9941 603 113, E-Mail: schreiber (at) wettzell.ifag.de

Publications:

2009

• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging and Earth Orientation. In: Astrometry, Geodynamics and Astronomical Reference Systems, Proceedings of Journées "Systèmes de référence spatio-temporels" and X. Lohrmann-Kolloquium, Dresden, Germany, 22.-24.09.2008, submitted 2009.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Relativity and Earth Orientation Parameters from Lunar Laser Ranging. In: Electronic Proceedings of the 16th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Posen, Poland, 12.-17.10.2008, submitted 2009.

2008

• Kopeikin, S. M., Pavlis, E., Pavlis, D., Brumberg, V. A., Escapa, A., Getino, J.; Gusev, A., Mueller, J., Ni, W. -T., Petrova, N.: Prospects in the orbital and rotational dynamics of the Moon with the advent of sub-centimeter lunar laser ranging. Advances in Space Research, vol. 42, p. 1378-1390, 2008.
• Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging: A Space Geodetic Technique to Test Relativity. In: Proceedings of the 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting, Berlin, 23.-29.07.2006, Kleinert, H.; Jantzen, R.T. & Ruffini, R. (eds.), World Scientific, Part C, 2576-2578, 2008.
• Müller, J., Biskupek, L., Oberst, J., Schreiber, U.: Contribution of Lunar Laser Ranging to Realise Geodetic Reference Systems, In: Reviewed Proceedings of the GRF2006 Meeting, München, 9.-13.10.2006, accepted 2008.
• Müller, J., Soffel, M., Klioner, S.: Geodesy and Relativity. Journal of Geodesy, vol. 82, p. 133-145, doi 10.1007/s00190-007-0168-7, 2008.
• Müller, J., Williams, J., Turyshev, S.: Lunar Laser Ranging Contributions to Relativity and Geodesy. In: Proceedings of the Conference on Lasers, Clocks, and Drag-free, ZARM, Bremen, 30.5.-1.6.2005, H. Dittus, C. Lämmerzahl, S. Turyshev (eds.), p. 457-472, Springer Astrophysics and Space Science Library, 2008.
• Pavlis, E., Müller, J.: International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS). IERS Annual Report 2007, BKG in press, 2008.
• Soffel, M.; Klioner, S.; Müller, J., Biskupek, L.: Gravitomagnetism and lunar laser ranging. Physical Review D, vol. 78, p. 024033, 2008.

2007

• Müller, J., Biskupek, L.: FESG/IFE, Report about the LLR Activities. ILRS Report 2005/2006, C.Noll and M.Pearlman (eds.), NASA/TP-2007-214153, p. 12-44 – 12-46, 2007 (or http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/reports/ilrs_reports/ilrsreport_2005.html ).
• Müller, J., L. Biskupek (2007): Variations of the gravitational constant from lunar laser ranging data. Classical and Quantum Gravity,Vol. 24, pp. 4533-4538, 2007.
• Müller, J., Shelus, P.: LLR network. ILRS Report 2005/2006, C.Noll and M.Pearlman (eds.), NASA/TP-2007-214153, p. 2-2 – 2-3, 2007 (or http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/reports/ilrs_reports/ilrsreport_2005.html ).

2006 and earlier

• Müller, J., Williams, J., Turyshev, S., Shelus, P.: Potential Capabilities of Lunar Laser Ranging for Geodesy and Relativity. In: P. Tregoning & C. Rizos (eds.), Dynamic Planet, IAG Symp., Cairns, Australia, 2005, IAG Symp., Vol. 130, pp. 903-909, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 2006.
• Müller, J., Kutterer, H., Soffel, M.: Earth Rotation and global dynamic processes – joint research activities in Germany. In Fundamental Astronomy: New concepts and models for high accuracy observations. Proceedings of the Journees Systemes de reference spatio-temporels (ed. by N.Capitaine), Paris 2004, P. 121-125, 2005.
• Müller, J.: Geodätische Bezugssyteme für Geobasisdaten. In: Geoinformationssysteme (GIS), Grundlagen – Anwendungen – Entwicklungen. Veröffentlichung der Akademie der Geowissenschaften zu Hannover (Hrsg: H.Quade), Heft 24, S. 6-11, 2004.

Presentations:

2009

• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Nutation coefficients determined by the analysis of Lunar Laser Ranging data, EGU General Assembly 2009, Wien, 19.-24.04.2009.
• Müller, J., Kutterer, H., Soffel, M.: Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes – An Inter-disciplinary Research Initiative, EGU General Assembly 2009, Wien, 19.-24.04.2009.
• Müller, J.: Braucht die Geodäsie Einstein oder Einstein die Geodäsie?, Geodätisches Kolloquium, Stuttgart, 6.02.2009.

2008

• Müller, J.: Moderne Geodäsie – eine Herausforderung für Gravitations- und Quantenphysik. Ehrenkolloquium der Leibniz-Sozietät der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 14.11.2008.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Earth Orientation Parameters from Lunar Laser Ranging, 16. International Laser Ranging Workshop ''SLR – The next generation'', Posen, Poland, 13.-17.10.2008.
• Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging - A Science Tool for Geodesy and General Relativity, 16. International Laser Ranging Workshop ''SLR – The next generation'', Posen, Poland, 13.-17.10.2008.
• Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging - Validation Plan for New LLR Sites. ILRS/AWG Meeting, Posen, Poland, 12.10.2008.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging und Erdorientierung, Geodätische Woche, Bremen, 30.09.-02.10.2008.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging and Earth Orientation, Les Journeés ''Systèmes de référence spatio-temporels'' und X. Lohrmann-Kolloquium, Dresden, 22.-24.09.2008.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J., Schreiber, U.: Determination of Earth Orientation from Lunar Laser Ranging Data, EGU General Assembly 2008, Wien, 13.-18.04.2008.
• Müller, J., Kutterer, H., Soffel, M.: Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes - Joint Research Activities in Germany, EGU General Assembly, Wien 16.04.2008.
• L. Biskupek: Bestimmung der Erdrotation aus LLR-Daten, Statusseminar DFG Forschergruppe FOR 584 “Erdrotation und globale dynamische Prozesse”, Wettzell, 12. – 14.03.2008.
• Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging - A Testbed for General Relativity. Frühjahrstagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, Freiburg, 4.3.2008.

2007

• Müller, J. Biskupek, L.: Lunar Laser Ranging Perspectives. Unified Analysis Workshop, Monterey, USA, 6.12.2007.
• L. Biskupek: Lunar Laser Ranging: Auswertung und Parameterbestimmung, Herbsttagung des Arbeitskreises Geodäsie/Geophysik, Freudenstadt, 16. - 19.10.2007.
• L. Biskupek: Bestimmung geodätischer Parameter aus Lunar Laser Ranging Daten, Geodätische Woche Leipzig, 25. – 27.09.2007 ( Abstract (pdf/11 KB)).
• Müller, J. Biskupek, L., Schreiber, U.: Lunar Laser Ranging 2007. ILRS/AWG Meeting, Perugia, Italien, 11.07.2007.
• Müller, J.: Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes – Status 2007. Statusseminar DFG-Forschergruppe FOR 584 “Erdrotation und globale dynamische Prozesse”, Dresden, 30. – 31.05.2007.
• L. Biskupek: P5 Lunar Laser Ranging: Statusbericht, Statusseminar DFG Forschergruppe FOR 584 “Erdrotation und globale dynamische Prozesse”, Dresden, 30. – 31.05.2007.
• Müller, J.: Braucht die Geodäsie Einstein oder Einstein die Geodäsie?, Mathematisch-Physikalisches Kolloquium, Hannover, 16.01.2007.

2006 and earlier

• J. Müller, L. Biskupek, J. Oberst, & U. Schreiber: Contribution of Lunar Laser Ranging to Realise Geodetic Reference Systems. IAG Symposium on Geodetic Reference Frames, Munich, October 10, 2006.
• J. Müller: Lunar Laser Ranging: A Space Geodetic Technique to Test Relativity. 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting, Berlin, July 28, 2006.
• Biskupek, L., Müller, J.: Lunar Laser Ranging: Konsistente Modellierung für geodätische und wissenschaftliche Anwendungen. Kick-off Meeting DFG-Forschergruppe FOR 584 “Erdrotation und globale dynamische Prozesse”, Hannover, 06.07.2006.
• Müller, J.: Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes. Kick-off Meeting DFG-Forschergruppe FOR 584 “Erdrotation und globale dynamische Prozesse”, Hannover, 06.07.2006.
• Müller, J.: Der Mond als geodätisches Ziel. DVW-Kolloquium, Cottbus, 12.06.2006.
• Müller, J.: Geodäsie und Gravitationsphysik. Rundgespräch zur Exzellenzinitiative des Bundes, Laserzentrum Hannover, 08.06.2006.
• Müller, J.: Was nützt Einstein der Geodäsie? Geodätisches Kolloquium, Technische Universität München, 01.06.2006.
• Müller, J.: Geodesy and Relativity. DFG-Rundgespräch ‚Gravitationsphysik’, Bad Honnef, 05.11.2005.
• Müller, J., Williams, J., Turyshev, S., Shelus, P.: Potential Capabilities of Lunar Laser Ranging for Geodesy and Relativity. IAG General Assembly, Cairns, Australia, 26.8.2005 (Digitalversion des Beitrags: http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0509019/).
• Müller, J., Kutterer, H., Soffel, M.: Earth Rotation and global dynamic processes. DFG-Begutachtung, Bonn, 22.06.2005.
• Müller, J., Williams, J., Turyshev, S.: Lunar Laser Ranging Contributions to Relativity and Geodesy. Conference on Lasers, Clocks, and Drag-free, ZARM, Bremen, 31.05.2005 (Digitalversion des Beitrags: http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0509114/).
• Müller, J.: Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes - Joint Research Activities in Germany, Journees 2004, Paris, 21.09.2004.
• Müller, J.: Geodätische Bezugssysteme für Geobasisdaten, Geoforum, Hannover, 08.06.2004.
• Müller, J.: Der Mond als geodätisches Ziel, DVW-Vortrag, Potsdam, 15.05.2003
• Müller, J.: Bedeutung von Lasermessungen zum Mond, DFG-Rundgespräch „Erdrotation“, Wettzell, 29.04.2003.

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