Recent Progress and Plans for the ILRS
Abstract
The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) is improving its service through the deployment new SLR ground stations, the adoption of new technologies in some of its legacy stations, the expansion of its roster of tracking missions, and the adoption of new procedures and tools to improve data quality and reliability. Laser ranging is embracing a wide range of new technologies, including lower energy, higher repetition rate (kHz) systems, single photon sensitive detectors, shorter pulse widths and normal point intervals for faster data acquisition and increased pass interleaving, automated to autonomous operation with remote access, and embedded software for real-time updates and decision making. The primary role of the ILRS is to support precision tracking of active missions such as those that provide ice and ocean altimetry observations, InSAR data, and measurements of the static and time-variable gravity field; enable precision measurements of Earth rotation parameters; and support space science and engineering. As an IAG Service, the ILRS supports the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) and its primary product: the development of the ITRF and its maintenance. Support for the GNSS constellations (e.g. BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS and IRNSS) has increased dramatically in recent years; further expansion of the roster is anticipated when the new GPS III constellation is deployed over the next decade. Applications have expanded to include ground and space-time synchronization and asynchronous ranging for targets at extended range. Support provided for new missions from universities and research institutions has also increased over the past few years. A few stations continue lunar laser ranging activities and several others have begun lunar ranging on a test basis. About a dozen stations are active in debris tracking for studies of orbital dynamics and reentry predictions. New tools and procedures and a new Quality Control Board have been established to improve the quality of our data and products, and to expedite the resolution of engineering issues via rapid response reports to the stations. Work also continues on the design and building of improved retroreflector targets to maximize data quality and quantity.
This paper will give an overview of activities underway within the Service, paths forward presently envisioned, and current issues and challenges.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.G31B0670S
- Keywords:
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- 1239 Earth rotation variations;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITYDE: 1240 Satellite geodesy: results;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITYDE: 1241 Satellite geodesy: technical issues;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITYDE: 5450 Orbital and rotational dynamics;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS