In the process of developing the Laser Altimeter needed in our lander, we realized that equipping our Lander (even our lightest version) with a Laser visible from the Earth is quite feasible! A fraction of a Watt output red Diode Laser equals many “candle power”. When this light is formed into a one milliradian beam, it equals millions of “Beam Candlepower”, and will be visible from the 400,000 km distance of the Moon. This beam would illuminate a spot 400 km in diameter on the Earth. The optimum shape will probably be elongated, 400 km north to south, and 100 km east to west. Viewers in the right latitude range (selected by laser beam positioning commands sent to the lander) would see the red Laser light for about 3 minutes as the Earth's rotation carried them through the beam. Flashing of the Laser, as well as its color, would aid in detecting the light visually.

Our plans call for landing just beyond the “sunrise” line on the waxing Moon. Only 2 to 3 days of operation will be possible before the initially cold temperature changes to excessively hot, with the sun high above the lander. Since we do not plan to land in the dark, extremely cold environment preceding sunrise, viewers will have to spot the Laser against a sunlit portion of the Moon. This will be easier just after sunset on the Earth, since the Earth's dark sky will produce less veiling glare. Viewing should be fairly easy with common sizes of amateur telescopes.

The purpose of this demonstration (beyond showing the possibility of optical communication) would be to draw thousands of people into direct participation – seeing the lander's position on the Moon for themselves - and avoiding the “Apollo Controversy” (“They didn't really land on the Moon, because ...”). Many of those who see a “low budget” lander blinking at them from the Moon, will begin thinking about the possibility of “low budget” Human landings.