An artifact for use in calibrating a laser tracker, the artifact comprising: a main segment having opposed first and second ends; a first detachable segment having opposed proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said first detachable segment being configured to selectively engage with said first end of said main segment, wherein the artifact is moveable between a deployed configuration for use in calibrating a laser tracker and a stowable configuration for ease of storage and transportation of the artifact, wherein moving the artifact from the deployed configuration to the stowable configuration includes detaching said first detachable segment from said main segment, and wherein moving the artifact from the stowable configuration to the deployed configuration includes attaching said first detachable segment to said main segment, the artifact further comprising: a first end plate coupled to said first end of said main segment, said first end plate defining first and second receiving apertures (182, 184); a first protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said first protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said first receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration; and a second protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said second protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said second receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration. a main segment having opposed first and second ends; a first detachable segment having opposed proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said first detachable segment being configured to selectively engage with said first end of said main segment, wherein the artifact is moveable between a deployed configuration for use in calibrating a laser tracker and a stowable configuration for ease of storage and transportation of the artifact, wherein moving the artifact from the deployed configuration to the stowable configuration includes detaching said first detachable segment from said main segment, and wherein moving the artifact from the stowable configuration to the deployed configuration includes attaching said first detachable segment to said main segment, wherein the artifact is moveable between a deployed configuration for use in calibrating a laser tracker and a stowable configuration for ease of storage and transportation of the artifact, wherein moving the artifact from the deployed configuration to the stowable configuration includes detaching said first detachable segment from said main segment, and wherein moving the artifact from the stowable configuration to the deployed configuration includes attaching said first detachable segment to said main segment, the artifact further comprising: a first end plate coupled to said first end of said main segment, said first end plate defining first and second receiving apertures (182, 184); a first protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said first protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said first receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration; and a second protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said second protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said second receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration. a first end plate coupled to said first end of said main segment, said first end plate defining first and second receiving apertures (182, 184); a first protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said first protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said first receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration; and a second protruding member extending from said proximal end of said first detachable segment, said second protruding member of said first detachable segment being configured to be received by said second receiving aperture of said first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration.