The Soviet order lost 40 years ago on the Moon and found last April by a team of U.S. physicists continues to surprise. The reflector, dubbed Lunokhod 1, which came to our natural satellite in November 1970, continues working and is sending very strong laser pulses to Earth, reports the Spanish daily ABC today.
Scientists are surprised that the instrument-shipped on board the unmanned moon mission 17 – still respond, and may be useful for first-level investigations as the search for deviations from the theory of relativity of Einstein. Tom Murphy of the University of San Diego UC recalled that pointed the laser at the position of the Lunokhod 1 and were “stupefied” by the power of the reflector. “Lunokhod one speaks loud and clear,” he said.
The remote-controlled robot traveled almost seven miles during their tour of eleven lunar months, sent thousands of television footage and hundreds of high-resolution panoramas. Also analyzed samples of lunar soil by 500 points. Then, on November 14, 1971 was lost and could not be found until last month, when Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA probe to study the moon, he found.
On April 22, Murphy and his team sent laser pulses from the 3.5 meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, focusing on its goal thanks to the coordinates provided by the LRO. The reflector intercepted pulses and sent a clear signal to Earth. Murphy reacted with disbelief and said the signal was so strong that he thought was not possible. “This rover has a lot to say,” he said.
