NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter finally hit the bullseye on May 24, bouncing light off Japan's SLIM retroreflector despite the lander not landing perfectly.
The Laser Retroreflector Array on SLIM reflects light back with high accuracy, aiding in future lunar exploration and spacecraft location without the need for power.
The achievement highlights the resilience of tiny retroreflectors and the unexpected success as the orbiter's laser altimeter was not initially designed for pinpointing such small devices on the Moon's surface.
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