Laser Altimeters
Laser altimeters are instruments that use laser beams to measure the distance between a spacecraft and the surface of a planet or other celestial body. They work by emitting a laser pulse towards the surface and measuring the time it takes for the pulse to bounce back to the spacecraft. This time measurement can be used to calculate the distance between the spacecraft and the surface. Laser altimeters are commonly used in planetary missions to create high-resolution topographic maps of the surface. They can also be used to study the properties of the surface, such as its roughness and reflectivity.
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