BackForwardInstrument:  LRA (NASA) 

Instrument details
Acronym LRA (NASA)
Full name Laser Retroreflector Array
Purpose Space geodesy - Precision orbitography
Short description Assemblage of 9 corner cube reflectors
Background Consolidated technology
Scanning Technique N/A
Resolution N/A
Coverage / Cycle N/A
Mass 2.2 kg Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency NASA
Instrument Maturity Flown on operational programme
Utilization Period: 1992 to 2036
Last update: 2023-02-10
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Other payload component
  • Positioning system
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 1
  • Gravimetry missions
  • Gravitometry sensing system
Mission objectives
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Crustal motion (horizontal and vertical)3 - highGround stations network needed.. Long time series needed.Opportunity information from laser retroreflectors used for precise orbitography
Crustal plates positioning3 - highGround stations network needed.. Long time series needed.Opportunity information from laser reflectors used for precise orbitography
Geoid4 - fairGround stations network needed.. Long time series needed.Opportunity information from laser reflector array used for precise orbit determination
Gravity field3 - highPartial information (geoid).Opportunity information from laser reflector array used for precise orbit determination