G008-0009
Recent Progress and Plans for Improvement of ILRS Infrastructure and Data Product Delivery

Thursday, 10 December 2020
Poster
Karl Ulrich Schreiber, Technical University of Munich, FESG - Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, Bad Koetzting, Germany, Michael R Pearlman, Center for Astrophysics, Radio and Geoastronomy Division, Cambridge, MA, United States, Carey E Noll, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 61A, Greenbelt, MD, United States, Erricos C Pavlis, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, Baltimore, MD, United States, Jean Torre, Université Côte d' Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d' Azur, CNRS, IRD, Géoazur, 2130 route de l' Observatoire, Caussols, France, Toshimichi Otsubo, Hitotsubashi University, Kunitachi, Japan and Michael Steindorfer, Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
Abstract:
International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) continues to improve its services through network expansion and upgrade, Improved diagnostic procedures, and upgrades of its modeling and analysis approaches, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. New ground stations are being deployed with higher repetition rate systems, more efficient detection, and increased automation; new technologies are also being adopted at some of the legacy stations to improve performance. The roster of tracked missions is rapidly expanding. The top priority for the Service continues to be its contribution to the reference frame development, but of increasing importance is the tracking of GNSS satellites, including the anticipated deployment of the new GPS III constellation over the next decade. These requirements are being reflected in new system designs and updates. Stations are also being adapted to accommodate ground and space-time synchronization. A few stations continue with lunar laser ranging activities, while several others have begun developing new lunar ranging capability. About a dozen stations are active in space-debris tracking for studies of orbital dynamics and reentry predictions.

New tools and procedures have been implemented to improve the quality of SLR data and derived products, and to expedite the resolution of performance issues. 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 and presently envisioned, and current issues and challenges.

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