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Overview

Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) use short-pulse lasers and state-of-the-art optical receivers and timing electronics to measure the two-way time of flight (and hence distance) from ground stations to retroreflector arrays on Earth orbiting satellites and the Moon. Scientific products derived using SLR and LLR data include precise geocentric positions and motions of ground stations, satellite orbits, components of Earth’s gravity field and their temporal variations, Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP), precise lunar ephemerides and information about the internal structure of the Moon. Laser ranging systems are already measuring the one-way distance to remote optical receivers in space and can perform very accurate time transfer between sites far apart. Laser ranging activities are organized under the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) which provides global satellite and lunar laser ranging data and their derived data products to support research in geodesy, geophysics, Lunar science, and fundamental constants. This includes data products that are fundamental to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), which is established and maintained by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). The ILRS develops the necessary global standards/specifications for laser ranging activities and encourages international adherence to its conventions.

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Highlights

Space Geodesy SLR Request for Information ReleasedRelease Date: 05/02/2013 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Geodesy Project (SGP) is soliciting information to improve its understanding of the interest, capabilities, and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates for planning the construction, deployment, and operation of the next generation Space Geodesy (SG) Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Stations that will be part of a new NASA’s Space Geodetic Network (SGN). NASA is considering the construction of up to ten new SLR stations that will contribute to the larger Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS).

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18th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Release Date: 04/23/2013 The first announcement of the next International Workshop on Laser Ranging has been issued.
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BLITS satellite tracking endsRelease Date: 04/19/2013 BLITS mission contacts from the Scientific Research Institute for Precision Instrument Engineering in Moscow have asked the ILRS to end tracking on the satellite. They believe the satellite collided with a small, uncatalogued fragment of space debris. They are planning to report on the satellite and event at the 18th International Workshop on Laser Ranging in November 2013 in Japan. The mission scientists would like to thank the ILRS stations for their active support of BLITS laser ranging. (N. Parkhomenko/Scientific Research Institute for Precision Instrument Engineering)

Grasse station tracks Lunokhod-1 retroreflector Release Date: 04/05/2013 On Tuesday night (2013.03.19T19:27), the LLR team of the MéO station (GRSM) in Calern, France, obtained a return signal from the Lunokhod-1 (Luna-17) reflector for the first time since the start of lunar laser ranging observations in the early 1980s. During three nights, before the reflector entered in the light, 214 echoes in 11 normal points were obtained.
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The ILRS is now a network member of the WDSRelease Date: 04/02/2013 The ILRS has recently been accepted as a network member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) World Data System (WDS). The WDS strives to enable open and long-term access to multidisciplinary scientific data, data services, products and information. The WDS works to ensure long-term stewardship of data and data services to a global scientific user community. The ILRS is a network member of the WDS, representing its two data centers and coordinating their activities within the WDS.

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Recent News

The first announcement of the next International Workshop on Laser Ranging has been issued.

The 2013 1st quarter SLR Global Performance Report Card has been published

BLITS mission contacts from the Scientific Research Institute for Precision Instrument Engineering in Moscow have asked the ILRS to end tracking on the satellite.

It is with great sorrow that we inform the ILRS community about the passing of our colleague, Mark Davis, on April 13, 2013.

On Tuesday night (2013.03.19T19:27), the LLR team of the MéO station (GRSM) in Calern, France, obtained a return signal from the Lunokhod-1 (Luna-17) reflector for the first time since the start of lunar laser ranging observations in the early 1980s.

The NERC Space Geodesy Facility (NSGF) is now providing a daily satellite prediction comparison service at http://sgf.rgo.ac.uk/qualityc/cpf_qc.html. The group has also updated the dynamic satellite priority service (http://sgf.rgo.ac.uk/operations/dynamicpriority.html).