The ILRS: approaching 20 years and planning for the future

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dc.contributor.authorPearlman, Michael R.
dc.contributor.authorNoll, Carey E.
dc.contributor.authorPavlis, Erricos C.
dc.contributor.authorLemoine, Frank G.
dc.contributor.authorCombrink, Ludwig
dc.contributor.authorDegnan, John J.
dc.contributor.authorKirchner, Georg
dc.contributor.authorSchreiber, Ulrich
dc.date.accessioned2019-04-17T18:59:35Z
dc.date.available2019-04-17T18:59:35Z
dc.date.issued2019-03-19
dc.description.abstractThe International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) was established by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) in 1998 to support programs in geodesy, geophysics, fundamental constants and lunar research, and to provide the International Earth Rotation Service with data products that are essential to the maintenance and improvement in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), the basis for metric measurements of changes in the Earth and Earth–Moon system. Other scientific products derived from laser ranging include precise geocentric positions and motions of ground stations, satellite orbits, components of Earth’s gravity field and their temporal variations, Earth Orientation Parameters, precise lunar ephemerides and information about the internal structure of the Moon. Laser ranging systems are already measuring the one-way distance to remote optical receivers in space and are performing very accurate time transfer between remote sites in the Earth and in Space. The ILRS works closely with the IAG’s Global Geodetic Observing System. The ILRS develops (1) the standards and specifications necessary for product consistency, and (2) the priorities and tracking strategies required to maximize network efficiency. The service collects, merges, analyzes, archives and distributes satellite and lunar laser ranging data to satisfy a variety of scientific, engineering, and operational needs and encourages the application of new technologies to enhance the quality, quantity, and cost effectiveness of its data products. The ILRS works with (1) new satellite missions in the design and building of retroreflector targets to maximize data quality and quantity, and (2) science programs to optimize scientific data yield. Since its inception, the ILRS has grown to include forty laser ranging stations distributed around the world. The ILRS stations track more than ninety satellites from low Earth orbit (LEO) to the geosynchronous orbit altitude as well as retroreflector arrays on the surface of the Moon. Applications have been expanded to include time transfer, asynchronous ranging for targets at extended ranges, free space quantum telecommunications, and the tracking of space debris. Laser ranging technology is moving to lower energy, higher repetition rates (kHz), single-photon-sensitive detectors, shorter pulse widths, shorter 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. An example of pass interleaving is presented for the Yarragadee station (see Fig. 4); tracking of LEO satellites is often accommodated during break in LEO and GNSS passes. New satellites arrays provide more compact targets and work continues on the development of lighter less expensive arrays for satellites and the moon. The service now provides operational ITRF products including daily/ weekly station positions and daily resolution Earth orientation products; the flow of weekly combination of satellite orbit files for LAGEOS/Etalon-1 and -2 has recently been established. New products are under testing through a pilot project on systematic error monitoring currently underway. The article will give an overview of activities underway within the service, paths forward presently envisioned, and current issues and challenges.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipMichael R. Pearlman acknowledges the support of NASA Grant 80NSSC18K0220. Ulrich Schreiber acknowledges the support from the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” contract SCHR 645/6-5 within the Research Group FOR1503. Erricos C. Pavlis acknowledges the support of NASA Grant NNX15AT34A. Carey E. Noll, Frank G. Lemoine, and John J. Degnan acknowledge the support from the NASA Space Geodesy Project.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00190-019-01241-1en_US
dc.format.extent20 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articles preprintsen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2wjm9-5xs0
dc.identifier.citationPearlman, M.R., Noll, C.E., Pavlis, E.C. et al. J Geod (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-019-01241-1en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-019-01241-1
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/13446
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherSpringer Nature Switzerland AG.en_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.rightsThis is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Journal of Geodesy. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-019-01241-1
dc.rightsAccess to this item will begin on March 19, 2020
dc.subjectThe International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS)en_US
dc.subjectlaser rangingen_US
dc.subjectsatellite laser rangingen_US
dc.subjectspace geodesyen_US
dc.subjectlaser retroreflectorsen_US
dc.subjectlunar rangingen_US
dc.subjectlaser tracking of space debrisen_US
dc.titleThe ILRS: approaching 20 years and planning for the futureen_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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