This site was established for workshop organization, registration, and planning. The post-workshop website has transitioned to http://cddis.gsfc.nasa.gov/lw19/index.html where the full proceedings (including abstracts, presentations, and papers), summary, photos, and other information are now located. This plannig website remains available for historical purposes only.

NASA Logo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

19th International Workshop on Laser Ranging

Celebrating 50 Years of SLR: Remembering the Past and Planning for the Future

Venue

The Workshop

Governor Calvert HouseThe workshop will take place in the Historic Inns of Annapolis located in downtown Annapolis Maryland. The city of Annapolis is the state capital of Maryland and is located near the Chesapeake Bay. Annapolis is a short drive from both Washington D.C. and Baltimore Maryland. Numerous restaurants, quaint shops, historic attractions, and waterfront are all within walking distance of the venue.

To honor the anniversary, we plan to spend one day, Wednesday October 29, at NASA GSFC where we will tour NASA Goddard Space Flight Center facilities and the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory (GGAO). This facility is located about five miles from the main GSFC campus. GGAO is the home of pioneering research in many areas, such as the scientific application of lasers, astronomy, and solar physics. GGAO is one of the few four-system co-location sites: the MOBLAS-7 and NGSLR SLR systems, the IGS GNSS receivers (GODE, GODZ, GODN, and GODS), the VGOS and MV-3 VLBI systems, and a DORIS beacon (GRFB). Tours of these systems will be conducted during the visit to GGAO. Transportation to and from the hotel in Annapolis will be provided. Attendees must complete the workshop registration by the deadline (September 30) in order to obtain clearance from GSFC and NASA security.

The organizers would like to acknowledge the workshop supporters who have contributed to the workshop.

The Historic Inns of Annapolis

The Historic Inns of Annapolis consists of three charming individual, historic inns (the Governor Calvert House, the Maryland Inn, and the Robert Johnson House) in the heart of Annapolis Maryland. The workshop, splinter meetings, posters, and breaks will be held in the Governor Calvert House located at 58 State Circle. Hotel check-in and valet parking is also located at the Governor Calvert House.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the workshop venue for the nights of October 26 through 30, at a rate of $121 plus tax, which is the current prevailing government lodging per diem rate in the Annapolis area. The guest rooms at the Historic Inns have all been restored and furnished in original and reproduction antiques and are equipped with modern amenities. All these facilities are clustered around two circles in Annapolis, convenient to the town's quaint shops, historic attractions, restaurants, and its colorful waterfront. Therefore, a rental car is probably not required for attendees of the workshop. However, valet parking at $24/night is available for guests staying in the Historic Inns with overnight accommodations.

Governor Calvert House

The room block consists of 75 rooms, which will be located in one of the three hotels in the Historic Inns, all within one block of each other. Attendees should make their own reservations at the hotel, no later than Wednesday, September 24, 2014. Reservations can be made in two ways:

  • Contact the hotel directly at: 410-263-2641 and ask to make a reservation for the October USRA Laser Ranging Meeting.
  • Use online booking Code USRA14 International Laser Ranging

Room requests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. After September 24, 2014, rooms will be available on a space and rate available basis.

Parking and Getting Around

Valet parking is available for guests staying in the Historic Inns with overnight accommodations; the cost is $24/night. For local attendees, there are several garages and facilities for parking outside of the hotel.

Historic Inss of Annapolis area map

The Annapolis Circulator is a trolley that moves individuals from the City’s four parking garages around the Annapolis Central Business District. Stops located on Church Circle are the most convenient to the workshop hotel venue. Parking in these select garages costs between $10 and $20 per day).

The Annapolis Transit operates a shuttle from the Navy-Marine Corp Stadium, located outside of the Central Business District, Monday through Friday and weekends in May through October. Patrons can park at the stadium for a fee of $5 per vehicle. The State Shuttle runs every 20 minutes from the Navy Stadium parking lot at a cost of $2.00 each way. More information, including stops, can be found at the website. The stop at Church Circle and School Street is the most convenient stop to the workshop venue at the Governor Calvert House.

The map and legend shows nearby parking garages and the Annapolis Transit route. More information about parking in Annapolis, including locations and rates, can be found at the Park Annapolis website.

Social Events

An icebreaker reception will be held at the Historic Inns of Annapolis on Monday, October 26 after the afternoon session. A banquet dinner is planned for Thursday, October 30 at Pusser's Carribean Grille, 80 Compromise Street, Annapolis. The restaurant is located on the waterfront and is less than 1/2 mile from the Historic Inns, an approximate 8 minute walk.

An excursion to the Goddard Space Flight Center is planned for Wednesday, October 29, 2014. Following the tour, buses will return attendees to Annapolis for a poster viewing session at the Historic Inns that includes beer, wine, and small appetizers.

A program for persons accompanying workshop attendees has been developed. Fees for the Wednesday and Thursday tours are due during meeting registration (Sunday October 26 and Monday October 27) and must be paid in cash. Those interested can sign up for any or all of the events.