They can determine the distance using a conventional telescope and some math since we already know the actual size of the moon this should be child’s play, mathematically speaking. As for the rocket, they sent land vehicles through the rift, a rocket in sections would be able to make it through, some assembly required of course, but they are already sending smart people through.
Of course the moon should only be about 149KM closer to earth 85 million years ago. That is not that much further than it is now. (stupid first episode miscalculation).
Current Moon Orbit:
Perigee 362,570 km (0.0024 AU)
Apogee 405,410 km (0.0027 AU)
Guestimate Moon Orbit from 85MYA
Perigee 362,420 km (0.0024 AU)
Apogee 405,330 km (0.0027 AU)
So oh, yeah it is going to look SO MUCH BIGGER 85MYA... LOL
That means putting people there. The point of the probe (of any probe) was to find out about the other side of the wormhole WITHOUT sending people. Also trying to have as little impact as possible in case monkeying around there actually does wind up changing history, if you’re going to send a whole bunch of people to assemble and build a rocket you just invalidated the test.
149 thousand clicks is a major change in the math of when to break orbit on the slingshot. And it’s actually about 1/3 of the distance, which is pretty significant.