Italy is ready to leave an even deeper imprint on the Moon. Thanks to an agreement signed between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and ispace-EUROPE, a subsidiary of the Japanese company ispace, an innovative instrument called LaRA2 (Laser Retroreflector Array) will be transported to the lunar surface.
LaRA2 is a small, robust and lightweight device designed to withstand harsh lunar conditions and precisely reflect laser beams sent from Earth. This will allow you to determine the position of the reflector with extreme precision, thus contributing to the creation of detailed maps of the Moon and improving space navigation. Italy, thanks to the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), boasts long experience in the development of these instruments, already used successfully in previous missions.
The LaRA2 instrument, a palm-sized domed array of retroreflectors
LaRA2 will be integrated into the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, part of ispace-US Mission 3, with a planned landing in 2026 in the Schrödinger Basin on the far side of the Moon. Once placed on the surface, the reflector will be targeted by lasers in lunar orbit, allowing scientists to collect valuable data to study the Moon and test fundamental theories such as General Relativity.
“This collaboration with ASI is an important step for lunar exploration“he declared Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace-EUROPE. “LaRA2, together with the other reflectors already present on the Moon, will allow us to improve our understanding of our satellite and pave the way for future missions.”
Raffaele Mugnuolo, head of the ASI exploration and orbiting infrastructure officeunderlined the importance of this mission: “Italy is a leader in the field of planetary laser reflectors. LaRA2 represents a further step forward in this direction and will allow us to consolidate our position in space exploration.”
The arrival of LaRA2 on the Moon represents a significant milestone for Italy and for the international scientific community.
