---
title: Latest Moon Mission Carries a New Reflection on History
date: 2025-01-15T12:00:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-new-reflection-on-history"
section: Articles
---
# Latest Moon Mission Carries a New Reflection on History

*January 15, 2025* — by [Chris Carroll](/author/chris-carroll)


> Physicist Who Helped Send Mirrors on Apollo 11 Launches an Improved Model

*MT feature template 1920x1080 10 — During the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969, astronaut Buzz Aldrin carries experiments including a lunar reflector designed by Douglas Currie (below) and other UMD faculty.*

In July 1969, four faculty members traveled from College Park to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to provide last-minute instruction to a noteworthy pupil: an Apollo 11 astronaut about to become one of the first humans to set foot beyond Earth.


*Douglas Currie headshot — Photo by John T. Consoli*


*Currie discusses project with astronauts and astronomers — In an undated photo, Currie (seated) discusses the project with Apollo astronauts and astronomers at the McDonald Observatory in Texas.*


*modern mirror design for NASA experiment — Currie’s modern mirror design awaits thermal testing in a chamber at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.*



**Sidebar note:**

Moonwalk practice in Arizona? Meet the professor overseeing safety testing for NASA’s Artemis mission to the moon at [go.umd.edu/back2moon](https://today.umd.edu/back-to-the-moon-but-first-arizona).





**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Physics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/physics), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)