Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES): contributions to the international laser ranging network

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Geodesy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) worked closely together in the early years of the space program to deploy satellite laser ranging (SLR) systems at overseas sites to enhance global coverage to support specific missions. The data were routinely made available for use by the science community for programs in geodesy, gravity field, atmospheric physics, and ultimately for oceanography and geodynamics. SAO and CNES organized campaigns for international participation and loaned each other equipment to enhance the network. SAO and CNES provided technical expertise and advice to a number of other groups as they planned and deployed SLR systems. In this paper, we will discuss the history and the role of the two institutions in the building of the international SLR network.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlier F, Lefebvre M (2001) A new look at planet earth: satellite geodesy and geosciences. In: Bleeker J, Geiss J, Huber M (eds) The century of space sciences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Pays-Bas, pp 1623–1651

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Courde C, Torre JM, Samain E, Martinot-Lagarde G, Aimar M, Albanese D, Chabé J, Exertier P, Feraudy D, Fienga A, Mariey H, Metris G, Viot H, Viswanathan V (2017) Lunar Laser ranging in infrared at the Grasse laser station. Astron Astrophys 602:A90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Exertier P, Bonnefond P, Nicolas J, Barlier F (2001) Contributions of satellite laser ranging to past and future radar altimetry missions. Surv Geophys Spec Issue Evolv Geodesy 22(5–6):491–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Exertier P, Belli A, Lemoine JM (2017) Time biases in laser ranging observations: a concerning issue of space geodesy. Adv Sp Res 60:948–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flick JA, Stomp N (2002) Sciences de la Terre au Luxembourg, Réminiscences, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg. ISNB 2-919877-00-8

  • Gaposchkin EM (1966) Orbit determination. In: Lundquist C, Veis G (eds) Geodetic parameters for a 1966 Smithsonian Institution Standard Earth. Smithsonian Astrophys Obs Spec Rep 200(I). Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge MA, pp 77–183

  • Gaposchkin EM, Smith DM et al (1973) Smithsonian Standard Earth (III). Smithsonian Astrophys Obs Spec Rep 353. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge MA

  • Henriksen SW (1977) National geodetic satellite program, a report compiled and edited for NASA by the American Geophysical Union, NASA SP-365

  • Kaula WM (1970) The terrestrial environment: solid earth and ocean physics. Report of a study at Williamstown, Massachusetts, sponsored by NASA-Electronics Research Center and MIT Measurement Systems Laboratory

  • Lehr CG, Pearlman MR, Scott JL, Wohn J (1970) Laser satellite ranging. In: Proceedings of symposium on laser applications in the geosciences, Douglas Advanced Research Laboratories, McDonald Douglas Corp., pp 111–130

  • Luck JMcK, Greene BA (1985) Report from Orroral. In: Proceedings of the international conference on earth rotation and the terrestrial reference frame (reports on the MERIT-COTES campaign on earth rotation and reference systems, IAU/IAG/IUGG, Part II), Columbus, Ohio, 31 July–2 August 1985, vol 1, pp 257–273

  • Mao D, McGarry J, Torrence M, Neu-mann G, Mazarico E, Barker M, Sun X, Rowlands D, Golder J, Zagwodzki T, Cavanaugh J, Zuber M, Smith D (2011) Laser ranging experiment on lunar reconnaissance orbiter: Timing determination and orbit constraints. In: Proceedings of the 17th international workshop on laser ranging, Bad Kötzting, Germany, pp 16–20

  • Nicolas J, Pierron F, Kasser M, Exertier P, Bonnefond P, Barlier F, Haase J (2000) French transportable laser ranging station: scientific objectives, technical features, and performance. Appl Opt Lasers Photonics Environ Opt 39(3):402–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlman MR, Lanham NW, Wohn J, Thorp JM, Imbier E, Young FD (1978) The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory satellite ranging hardware. In: Proceedings of the third international workshop on laser ranging instrumentation, Lagonissi, Greece, 23–27 May 1978 (available on the ILRS website)

  • Pearlman MR, Lanham N, Wohn J, Thorp J (1981) Current status and upgrading of the SAO laser ranging systems. In: Proceedings of the third international workshop on laser ranging instrumentation, Austin, TX, 12–16 October 1981 (available on the ILRS Website)

  • Plotkin HH, Johnson TS, Spadin P, Moye J (1965) Reflection of ruby laser radiation from explorer 22. Proc IEEE 53:301–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samain E, Exertier P, Courde C, Fridelance P, Guillemot Ph, Laas-Bourez M, Torre J-M (2015) Time transfer by laser link: a complete analysis of the error budget. Metrologia 52:423–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith DE, Lerch FJ, Marsh JG, Wagner CA, Kolenkiewicz R, Khan MA (1976) Contributions to the national geodetic satellite program by goddard space flight. J Geophys Res Solid Earth Planets 81(5):1006–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Space Oceanography, Navigation and Geodynamics (1978) SONG workshop. Schloss Elmau, Germany, 16–21 January 1978, ESA-SP-137

  • Wang X, Bonnefond P, Exertier P et al (2015) Laser ranging data analysis for a colocation campaign of French Transportable Laser Ranging System (FTLRS) in Tahiti. J Geodesy 89(1):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Michael Pearlman acknowledges the support of NASA Grant 80NSSC18K0220. Gérard Brachet, Michel Lefebvre, François Barlier, and Pierre Exertier acknowledge the support of CNES, INSU/CNRS, Université de Nice/Sophia Antipolis/Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur/GEOAZUR.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Michael Pearlman

  2. Sic Itur SARL, Space Policy Consultants, Paris, France

    Gérard Brachet

  3. Centre National d’Études Spatiales, Paris, France

    Michel Lefebvre

  4. Observatoire de la Côte d’azur/GEOAZUR, Valbonne, France

    François Barlier & Pierre Exertier

Authors
  1. Michael Pearlman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gérard Brachet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michel Lefebvre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. François Barlier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pierre Exertier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Pearlman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pearlman, M., Brachet, G., Lefebvre, M. et al. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES): contributions to the international laser ranging network. J Geod 93, 869–875 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-018-1209-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-018-1209-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation