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TLRS  

Definition

  • Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) allows scientists to detect small movements in the Earth's surface over distances of many thousands of miles (1.6 km per mile). This technique can be applied globally to measure the movement of many of the rigid blocks of the Earth's crust, or plates. SLR plate motion studies have largely helped to confirm the expected motions for most plates, obtained from geologic data averaged over several million years. Laser ranging observatories are located around the world. There are three kinds of stations; fixed, movable and highly mobile. In a fixed system, the laser is permanently located at a pier or foundation that does not change position. Four of the NASA stations are the highly mobile type called Transportable Laser Ranging Systems (TLRS). They are newer systems that are smaller versions of the fixed and movable SLR systems. They are complete systems able to operate from a pad accessible by road, and require relatively short setup and breakdown times. Because of the need to sample the orbit of the retroreflector satellite, however, the duration of recording is generally measured in terms of weeks to months. [Summary provided by NASA] (en)

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https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/e9b42200-2667-48df-a63f-4e5ea9a7ef46

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