Satellite-Dependent System Configuration and Center of Mass (CoM) correction files
José Rodríguez (IGN, Spain) in collaboration with Graham Appleby (BGS, UK) and Toshimichi Otsubo (Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan) has modelled the most relevant effects to compute tables of CoM corrections for the geodetic satellites LAGEOS, LAGEOS-2, Starlette, Stella, Ajisai, LARES, and LARES-2. The corrections attempt to account to the best extent possible for the relevant documented change in configurations at the laser ranging stations of the ILRS. The latest models are available from a data server at IGN Spain (see below). The tar files contain the data tables, and example software to read this information to return the desired CoM value for a particular satellite on a certain date. Users should read carefully the ILRS Data Handling File (DHF) and use the CoM model specified in the Data Handling File. This is because the applied biases for ILRS stations in the DHF are tied to the CoM model that is used.
When using these CoM models in analysis of SLR data, the following citation should be used:
Rodríguez J., Appleby G. & Otsubo, T. (2019). “Upgraded modelling for the determination of centre of mass corrections of geodetic SLR satellites: impact on key parameters of the terrestrial reference frame”, J. Geodesy, 93, 2553–2568, doi:10.1007/s00190-019-01315-0
A summary of recent updates is also available in a technical report prepared by José Rodríguez:
Rodríguez J C. (2022). “Centre of mass corrections updates for geodetic spherical satellites: Changes in the latest releases in preparation for the computation of ITRF2020 products”, Technical Report IT-CDT 2022-11, Yebes Observatory, Spain, Nov. 22, 2022
URL:
https://datos-geodesia.ign.es/SLR/centre_of_mass_models/reports_and_presentations/2022.JCR.IT-CDT-2022-11.CoMupdateGeodSphericalSats.pdf
The derivation of the CoM correction for LARES-2 is discussed in the following presentation to the 2023 (Virtual) ILRS Workshop:
Rodríguez J., Appleby G., Neubert R., Otsubo T., Susnik A. (2023). “LARES-2 Center-of-mass corrections”, Presentation at the 2023 Virtual ILRS Workshop: URL: https://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/lw23/docs/presentations/S01/3_RodriguezJC.pdf
Link to download the latest CoM models for the geodetic satellites:
URL: https://datos-geodesia.ign.es/SLR/centre_of_mass_models/
