New Mission Support

Request for tracking support for new missions must be formally submitted to the ILRS Central Bureau (CB), reviewed by the Missions Working Group (MWG) and approved by the Governing Board (GB).

New missions request tracking support by first completing an ILRS SLR Mission Support Request Form accessible through the ILRS Web site. This form will provide the ILRS with a description of the mission objectives, mission requirements, SLR role and mission requirements, responsible individuals, organizations, and contact information, timeline, satellite subsystems, and details of the retroreflector array and its placement on the satellite. This form also outlines the early stages of intensive support that may be required during the initial orbital acquisition and stabilization and instrument checkout phases, as well as any specialized support or activities that may be requested during the nominal mission phase. The mission sponsor must also include the precise details of the characteristics of the on-board retroreflector array through the support request form.

Upon completion and submission to the CB, the forms are forwarded to the MWG for review, iteration with the user, if necessary, and development of a recommendation on ILRS support including tracking priorities. This recommendation takes into consideration the realism of the program, anticipated scientific achievements and interest of others in these results, the ILRS role in the mission, and the overall tracking load on the ILRS network. After MWG review, the CB then submits the request to the Governing Board for approval.

Once tracking support is approved, the CB works with the new missions to establish the level of tracking, the schedule, the points of contact, and the channels of communication. To avoid confusion at the field stations, all communications from the missions to the tracking stations must go through the Central Bureau unless otherwise authorized by the Central Bureau. New missions normally receive very high priority during the acquisition and checkout phases after launch, and are then placed at a routine priority based on the satellite category and orbital parameters.

It is important that missions supported by the ILRS acknowledge the service in papers and presentations that rely on SLR and results. Papers can reference the following citation:

Pearlman, M.R., Degnan, J.J., and Bosworth, J.M., "The International Laser Ranging Service", Advances in Space Research, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 135-143, July 2002, DOI:10.1016/S0273-1177(02)00277-6.

The SLR community relies on these acknowledgements and references to strengthen its requests for continued support from its funding organizations.

Prior to launch, the mission requestor should:

1. Complete and submit an ILRS SLR Mission Support Request Form (MSR) to the ILRS Central Bureau (CB) at least 3 to 6 months prior to when anticipated support is required, highlighting any extrapordinary conditions or support that will be required.
2. Keep the ILRS CB informed of anticipated mission launch schedules.
3. Three months prior to launch, contact the ILRS CB to schedule tests of prediction (in Consolidated Prediction Format, CPF) and data transfer procedures.
   1. Sample CPF should be submitted to the ILRS CB for review to ensure data format
   2. Test data flow to CDDIS Data Center using ftp
   3. Test e-mail to EDC Data Center prediction exploder with correct subject line
4. One month prior to launch, mission contacts will review previously-submited MSR and provide any updates to the ILRS CB.
5. As soon as possible following launch, inform the CB of key tracking parameters (e.g., NORAD number and COSPAR ID). A sample CPF should be submitted for review to ensure usability by the ILRS stations. The mission should specify the timeframe for ILRS tracking to commence.
6. Report at ILRS meetings on mission results and the contributions of SLR to these results.
7. Keep the ILRS community (stations, CB) informed of changes to the mission status (e.g., maneuvers, system problems, etc.) that could affect SLR tracking.

Prior to launch, the ILRS CB will:

1. Provide the mission with all procedures to follow for the Mission Support Request form, prediction generation and delivery, etc.
2. Provide the mission with satellite SIC number.
3. Three months prior to launch, coordinate all CPF testing including data flow. Ensure data format.
4. One month prior to launch, send a message of reminder to mission to review Mission Support Request form.
5. Just prior to launch, coordinate a notice of upcoming mission support to the ILRS stations.

Post launch, the ILRS CB will:

1. Inform the ILRS operations and data centers of the new mission, providing all necessary information (e.g., COSPAR ID, SIC number, normal point interval, prediction provider, special support instructions, start date) to begin data transfer and archive.
2. Issue a notice to the ILRS stations and general community announcing the new mission and providing all necessary information to commence tracking.
3. Issue new mission reports weekly detailing tracking statistics through SLReport with copies to mission contacts.
4. Monitor tracking progress to ensure adequate support is provided.

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Last modified date: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Author: Carey Noll
Maintained by: Carey Noll