WMO OSCAR | Details for Instrument LRA (ASI)

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Instrument: LRA (ASI)

Instrument details

Acronym	LRA (ASI)
Full name	Laser Retroreflector Array
Purpose	Space geodesy - Precision orbitography
Short description	Assemblage of 426 corner cube reflectors for LAGEOS-1 and LAGEOS-2, 92 for LARES. The payload consists of the full satellite
Background	Consolidated technology
Scanning Technique	N/A
Resolution	N/A
Coverage / Cycle	N/A
Mass	400 kg	Power	Data Rate

Providing Agency	ASI
Instrument Maturity	Flown on an R&D satellite
Utilization Period:	1976 to 2050
Last update:	2023-02-10

Detailed characteristics

Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Laser Geodynamics Satellite (ASI)
- LAGEOS-1 (see instrument status) Jun 1976 - 2026
- LAGEOS-2 (see instrument status) Nov 1992 - 2042
Laser RElativity Satellite (ASI)
- LARES-1 (see instrument status) May 2012 - 2050
- LARES-2 (see instrument status) Sep 2022 - 2050

Instrument classification

Other payload component
Positioning system

WIGOS Subcomponents

Subcomponent 1
Gravimetry missions
Gravitometry sensing system

Mission objectives

Primary mission objectives

Crustal motion (horizontal and vertical)
Crustal plates positioning
Geoid
Gravity field
Ground water

Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.

Variable	Relevance for measuring this variable	Operational limitations	Explanation
Crustal motion (horizontal and vertical)*	1 - primary	Ground stations network needed.. Long time series needed.	Dedicated satellite equipped by laser retroreflectors, specifically designed for space geodesy
Crustal plates positioning*	1 - primary	Ground stations network needed.. Long time series needed.	Specifically designed system for space geodesy
Geoid*	1 - primary	Ground stations network needed.. Long time series needed.	Dedicated satellite in very stable orbit optimal for describing the Earth's gravity field and geoid
Gravity field*	3 - high	Partial information (geoid).	Dedicated satellite in very stable orbit optimal for describing the Earth's gravity field