A LASER TRACKING REFLECTOR is an object that reflects incident energy; usually a device designed for specific reflection characteristics such as tracking (observing patterns) with laser technology. [With regard to the LAGEOS Missions, Text From National Space Science Data Center, http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1976-039A-01 ] Laser retroreflectors covering a very dense spherical satellite were used to provide a permanent reference point in a very stable orbit for precision earth-dynamics measurements. This sphere was machined largely from depleted uranium, weighed about 411 kg, and was composed of a cubical inner core with six attached spherical caps. Each of the spherical caps had machined cavities to accommodate the retroreflectors. The satellite was placed at a high orbital inclination at an altitude of about 5000 km and tracked by a network of 13 laser stations operated by both U.S. and foreign agencies. The performance in orbit is limited only by degradation of the retroreflectors, and a minimum lifetime of 50 years is expected. Group: Instrument_Details Entry_ID: LASER TRACKING REFLECTOR Group: Instrument_Identification Instrument_Category: Earth Remote Sensing Instruments Instrument_Class: Passive Remote Sensing Instrument_Type: Positioning/Navigation Instrument_Subtype: Laser Ranging Short_Name: LASER TRACKING REFLECTOR End_Group Group: Associated_Platforms Short_Name: LAGEOS-2 Short_Name: LAGEOS-1 End_Group Online_Resource: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1976-039A-01 Online_Resource: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1992-070B-01 End_Group
LASER TRACKING REFLECTOR
Laser Ranging