Satellite Laser Ranging Data from a Global Network of Sites

Data collection began with the launch date of the laser satellites. The dataset contains normal points and partly full rate data of distances from 10 to 30 globally distributed sites to different laser satellites. It is provided by the organization SCIOPS via NASA's Earthdata platform.

Use Cases

• Precise orbit determination for laser satellites based on distance measurements.
• Studying Earth's geodynamic processes based on long-term, high-precision ranging data.
• Calibrating and validating other space geodetic techniques based on SLR observations.
• Analyzing changes in data density and observation priorities for different satellites over time.

Strengths

• Data originates from a network of 10 to 30 globally distributed observation sites.
• Includes both processed 'normal points' and higher-frequency 'full rate' data.
• Covers multiple laser satellites, providing a multi-satellite record.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count, file formats, and specific temporal coverage are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, via NASA Earthdata (nasa_earthdata).

Collection Method

Likely collected via ground-based laser ranging stations measuring distances to satellites.

Time Range

Beginning with the launch date of the respective laser satellites; specific end date unknown.

Geography

Global, based on data from 10 to 30 globally distributed sites.