March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ1 International Laser Ranging Service GGOS Meeting GFZ Potsdam Germany March 1 and 2, 2005

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ2 ILRS Organization

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ3

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ4 Data Applications Earth orientation parameters (polar motion and LOD) 3-D coordinates and velocities of the ILRS tracking stations Time-varying geocenter coordinates Static and time-varying coefficients of the Earth's gravity field Precision Orbit Determination Fundamental physical constants Lunar ephemerides and librations Lunar orientation parameters

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ5 ILRS Analysis and Associate Analysis Centers ILRS SLR Official Combination Centers –Prime: ASI/CGS, Italian Space Agency/Space Geodesy Center, Italy –Alternate: DGFI, Deutsches Geodaetisches ForschungsInstitut, Germany Active Contributors to the SLR Combination Products –ASI/CGS, Italian Space Agency/Space Geodesy Center "G. Colombo", Italy –DGFI, Deutsches Geodaetisches ForschungsInstitut, Germany –BKG, Bundesamt fuer Kartographi und Geodaesie, Germany –GFZ, GeoForschungsZentrum, Germany –JCET, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, USA –NSGF, NERC Space Geodesy Facility, UK Lunar Analysis Centers –FFI, Forsvarets ForskningsInstitut, Norway –JPL, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA (SLR and Lunar) –OCA, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azure, France (Lunar) –POLAC, Paris Observatory Lunar Analysis Center, France (Lunar) –University of Texas, Lunar Analysis Center (Lunar)

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ6 Other SLR Analysis and Associate Analysis Centers –AIUB, Astronomical Institute of Berne, Switzerland –CSR, Center for Space Research, U. of Texas –DUT, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands –ESA/ESOC, European Space Agency/ESA Space Operations Center, Germany –GAOUA, Main Astronomical Obser., National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine –Geoscience Australia –IAA, Institute of Applied Astronomy, Russia –JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency –JPL, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA –MCC, Mission Control Center, Russia –Newcastle University, UK –NICT, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ7 ILRS Customers IERS Supported Missions (POD) ILRS Analysis Centers Academic Research Centers National Agencies and Laboratories Commercial Organizations

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ8 Current ILRS Missions Support Gravity Probe-B Relativity ICESatGlobal Topography (Ice, Oceans, and Land) GRACE-A/B Static and Time Varying Gravity Field CHAMP Gravity and Magnetic Field GFO-1 ** Ocean Topography Envisat Ocean Topography, Atmosphere ERS-2 ** Ocean Topography, Atmosphere Jason Ocean Topography TOPEX/Poseidon ** Ocean Topography Larets * Technology, Gravity Field Starlette, Stella * Static and Time Varying Gravity Field, Tides Meteor-3M **Technology, SAGE Ajisai * Gravity Field LAGEOS- 1, 2 * Ref. Frame, Positioning, Static and T/V Gravity Beacon-C * Static and Time Varying Gravity Field Etalon-1, 2 * Positioning, EOP GLONASS-84, 87, 89Orbit calibration and validation GPS-35, 36 Orbit calibration and validation Lunar Reflectors: Apollo15, Apollo 11, Apollo 14, Luna 21, Luna 17 Key: * Passive Satellites ** Active satellites with SLR tracking only

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ9 Upcoming Missions Mission Application Launch CRYOSatIce budgetJuly 2005 Galileo (2) Orbit calibration and validation October 2005 ALOSEnvironmental remote sensing Late 2005 GOCEGravity Field, Geoid, Ocean Surface 2006

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ10 ILRS Station Operations Location of Stations Most stations are located close to participating agencies Some are located to enhance global distribution (South Africa, Tahiti, Arequipa) Voids in global distribution Satellite Priorities Priorities decrease with increasing orbital altitude and then increasing orbital inclination Priorities may be increased to intensify support for active missions (such as altimetry), special campaigns, and post-launch intensive tracking Priorities are reviewed and approved by the Governing Board See Scheduling, Coordination and Delivery of Observations Stations tracking schedules range from 1 to 4 shifts per week Stations track according to priorities, predictions and their local capabilities The Governing Board approves special campaigns Special procedures (e.g. for vulnerable satellites) are approved by the Governing Board and managed by the Central Bureau Data is delivered in 1 -2 hours from acquisition

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ11 Laser Ranging Data and Data Products Satellite Laser Ranging Data series spanning 3 decades at ftp://cddis.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/slr/data) Operational Satellite Ephemerides/predictions at ftp://cddis.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/slr/predicts) ILRS Station and EOP Combination Product (SINEX format) –Station Coordinates: 3 mm; 2 mm/year –EOP: 0.2 milliarcsec: LOD 60 microsec. Analysis Center contributions –Station Coordinates –Earth Origin –Temporal and static gravity field (long wavelength) –LAGEOS Orbits (10 mm/weekly) Position and EOP contributions available at ftp://cddis.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/slr/products Lunar Laser Ranging Lunar Ephemerides: cm Lunar Libration:.01 arcsec. Products available at Measurement and product standards? Station Qualification Criteria ( data quantity, data quality, operational compliance) See Analyses follows IERS conventions

March 1 & 2, 2005NC&I WG GGOS Meeting/GFZ12 ILRS Future Activities Upgrades for improved performance (short term, long term) kilohertz ranging autonomous operation (24/7) improved event timers two-color ranging (refraction) better control systems for more efficient satellite pass interleaving more compact retroreflector arrays continuous data flow transponder operations (LLR and planetary ranging) broader applications (communications) Improved modeling (S/C center of mass, propagation, etc.) New Missions that will improve measurement quality Additional passive, high mass density satellites in new orbits Key Issues Deterioration of the network Non-performing stations Global distribution