NASA CDDIS Satellite Laser Ranging Full-Rate Observation Summary

1976 to present data comprises full-rate satellite laser ranging observations, including all valid satellite returns, transmitted daily and consolidated into monthly, satellite-specific files. The NASA Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) archives and provides this dataset, which supports both engineering evaluation and scientific research. Data formats evolved from ILRS/CSTG (1976-2011) to CRD format, which became operational in January 2011.

Use Cases

• Studying retroreflector performance by analyzing raw return signal data.
• Calibrating satellite targets using the full suite of observed laser returns.
• Validating system quality for co-located laser stations through comparative pass analysis.
• Understanding the statistical nature of satellite signatures from the high-volume full-rate records.
• Engineering evaluation of laser tracking network station performance.

Strengths

• Provides a long-term record spanning from 1976 to the present.
• Contains full-rate data, offering the complete set of valid satellite returns for detailed analysis.
• Managed and archived by NASA's authoritative CDDIS.

Limitations

• Key metadata conflicts: row count, size, and specific license details are unknown or inconsistent across sources.
• Full-rate data is not routinely provided by all stations in the laser tracking network, limiting spatial completeness.
• Column names and specific data schema are not provided by any source.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS).

Collection Method

Collected via a global network of satellite laser ranging stations, transmitted daily, and processed into monthly summary files by CDDIS.

Time Range

1976 to present

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:01:36.361691

Geography

Global coverage dependent on the participating laser tracking station network.