LAGEOS 1, 2
LAser GEOdynamics Satellite

The LAGEOS satellites are passive vehicles covered with retroreflectors designed to reflect laser beams transmitted from ground stations. By measuring the time between transmission of the beam and reception of the reflected signal from the satellite, stations can precisely measure the distance between themselves and the satellite. These distances can be used to calculate station positions to within 1-3 cm. Long term data sets can be used to monitor the motion of the Earth's tectonic plates, measure the Earth's gravitational field, measure the "wobble" in the Earth's axis of rotation, and better detemine the length of an Earth day. LAGEOS 1 was developed by NASA and was placed into a high inclination orbit to permit viewing by ground stations located around the world. LAGEOS 2 was a joint program between NASA and the Italian space agency (ASI), which built the satellite using LAGEOS 1 drawings and specifications, handling fixtures, and other materials provided by NASA. LAGEOS 2's orbit was selected to provide more coverage of seismically active areas, such as the Mediterranean Basin and California, and may help scientists understand irregularities noted in the motion of LAGEOS 1. Ground tracking stations are located in many countries (including the US, Mexico, France, Germany, Poland, Australia, Egypt, China, Peru, Italy, and Japan) and data from these stations is available worldwide to investigators studying crustal dynamics. LAGEOS 1 also contains a message plaque addressed to human and other beings of the far distant future with maps of the Earth from 3 different eras - 268 million years in the past, present day, and 8 million years in the future (the satellite's estimated decay date).

Spacecraft
Both satellites are spherical bodies with an aluminum shell wrapped around a brass core. The design was a comprimise between numerous factors includings the need to be as heavy as possible to minimize the effects of non-gravitational forces vs. being light enough to be placed in a high orbit and the need to accommodate as many retroreflectors as possible vs. the need to minimize surface area to minimize the effects of solar pressure. The materials were chosen to reduce the effects of the Earth's magnetic field on the satellite's orbit. 426 cube-corner retroreflectors are imbedded in the satellites' surface. 422 of these are made of fused silica glass while the other 4 are made of germanium. The vehicles have no onboard sensors or electronics, and are not attitude controlled.

Payload
Science is performed by reflecting laser light from the vehicle's 426 retroreflectors.

Country of Origin	1: USA / 2: Italy
Customer/User	NASA, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI)
Manufacturer(s)	NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Bendix Aerospace Systems, Aeritalia
Size	0.6 m dia. sphere
Orbit	1: 5858 x 5958 km, incl. = 109.8 deg. / 2: 5616 x 5950 km, incl. = 52.6 deg.
Design Life	50 years
Related Sites	Jennifer Green's LAGEOS Page

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
Lageos 1	1976-039A	5/4/76	WSMC	Delta 2913	MEO	411
Lageos 2	1992-070B	10/22/92	ESMC	STS 52	MEO	400
60 cm diameter sphere with laser reflectors; deployed from STS-52 10/23/92