Implementing the Consolidated laser Ranging Data (CRD) Format throughout the ILRS Network

Abstract

Technological changes in recent years and new missions such as LRO and T2L2 with novel use of laser signals mandated the revision and consolidation of the various ILRS data formats. The new laser data format is required to accommodate higher precision laser data and include additional data fields with ancillary information. After several years of development, the Consolidated laser Ranging Data (CRD) format, which accommodates fullrate, sampled engineering, and normal point data in a unified, expanded, flexible format, is ready to be implemented throughout the ILRS network. The first step in implementation requires the Operations Centers (OCs) and Data Centers (DCs) to be able to accept and distribute data in the CRD format. Next, a number of analysis centers (ACs) must be able to ingest data in the new format for testing and validating each station‘s transition from old to new format. Finally, the stations need to produce the CRD format. Owing to the changes in precision and total restructuring of the data format, it has been decided to require validation step for each station's normal points in the new format prior to their being made generally available. The timetable, details, and status of implementation of this plan are presented here.