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NASA NTRS2018

NASA's Satellite Laser Ranging Systems for the 21st Century

For over 40 years, NASA’s global network of satellite laser ranging (SLR) stations has provided a significant percentage of the global orbital data used to define the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The current NASA legacy network is reaching its end-of-life and a new generation of systems must be ready to take its place. Scientific demands of sub-millimeter precision ranging and the ever-increasing number of tracking targets give aggressive performance requirements to this new generation of systems. Using lessons learned from the legacy systems and the successful development of a prototype station, a new network of SLR stations, called the Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) systems, is being developed. These will be the state-of-the-art SLR component of NASA’s Space Geodesy Project (SGP). Each of SGSLR’s nine subsystems has been designed to produce a robust, kilohertz laser ranging system with 24/7 operational capability and with minimal human intervention. SGSLR’s data must support the aggressive goals of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), which are 1 millimeter (mm) position accuracy and 0.1 mm per year stability of the ITRF. This paper will describe the major requirements and accompanying design of the new SGSLR systems, how the systems will be tested, and the expected system performance.

J. F. Mcgarry↗
NASA NTRS1993

Sub-Daily Earth Rotation during the Epoch '92 Campaign

Earth rotation measurements were obtained using Global Positioning System (GPS) data for 11 days during the Epoch '92 campaign in the Summer of 1992. Earth orientation was measured simultaneously with several very long baseline interferornetry (VLBI) networks. These data were processed to yield both GPS and VLBI estimates of UT1 with 3-hour time resolution, which were then compared and analyzed. The high frequency behavior of both data sets is similar, although drifts between the two series of approx.0,1 ms over 2-5 days are evident, Models for tidally induced UT1 variations and estimates of atmospheric angular momentum (AAM) at 6-hour intervals were also compared with the geodetic data, These studies indicate that most of the geodetic signal in the diurnal and semidiurnal frequency bands can be attributed to tidal processes, and that UT1 variations over a few days are mostly atmospheric in origin.

Global Positioning System (GPS) long baseline inte↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) Contributions to GGOS

The Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) provides essential support for the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) by operating a data and product archive for the main geodetic techniques. As GGOS matures and grows, the CDDIS adopts the latest data practices to strengthen its support for the community and ensure quality products are available in a timely manner. To this end, the CDDIS is continually refining its software backend, performing developments such as the 2023 implementation of a middleware processing system, which is successfully being used in operation to provide GNSS-based Upper Atmospheric Realtime Disaster Information and Alert Network (GUARDIAN) and Global Differential GPS System (GDGPS) products. In addition, the CDDIS has 1) released new data and products, 2) performed updates to facilitate navigation of the archive, and 3) made it easier to cite the data and products being added. This poster explores the breadth of work done at the CDDIS and provides highlights of the latest developments.

Justine Woo↗
NASA NTRS1989

GPS measurements of strain accumulation across the Imperial Valley, California: 1986-1989

The Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected in southern California from 1986 to 1989 indicate considerable strain accumulation across the Imperial Valley. Displacements are computed at 29 stations in and near the valley from 1986 to 1988, and at 11 sites from 1988 to 1989. The earlier measurements indicate 5.9 +/- 1.0 cm/yr right-lateral differential velocity across the valley, although the data are heavily influenced by the 1987 Superstition Hills earthquake sequence. Some measurements, especially the east-trending displacements, are suspects for large errors. The 1988 to 1989 GPS displacements are best modeled by 5.2 +/- 0.9 cm/yr of valley crossing deformation, but rates calculated from conventional geodetic measurements (3.4 to 4.3 cm/yr) fit the data nearly as well. There is evidence from GPS and Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) observations that the present slip rate along the southern San Andreas fault is smaller than the long-term geologic estimate, suggesting a lower earthquake potential than is currently assumed. Correspondingly, a higher earthquake potential is indicated for the San Jacinto fault. The Imperial Valley GPS sites form part of a 183 station network in southern California and northern Baja California, which spans a cross-section of the North American-Pacific plate boundary.

Larsen, Shawn↗
NASA NTRS1992

Global Positioning System measurements of strain accumulation across the Imperial Valley, California - 1986-1989

The Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected in southern California from 1986 to 1989 indicate considerable strain accumulation across the Imperial Valley. Displacements are computed at 29 stations in and near the valley from 1986 to 1988, and at 11 sites from 1988 to 1989. The earlier measurements indicate 5.9 =/- 1.0 cm/yr right-lateral differential velocity across the valley, although the data are heavily influenced by the 1987 Superstition Hills earthquake sequence. Some measurements, especially the east-trending displacements, are suspects for large errors. The 1988 to 1989 GPS displacements are best modeled by 5.2 =/- 0.9 cm/yr of valley crossing deformation, but rates calculated from conventional geodetic measurements (3.4 to 4.3 cm/yr) fit the data nearly as well. There is evidence from GPS and Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) observations that the present slip rate along the southern San Andreas fault is smaller than the long-term geologic estimate, suggesting a lower earthquake potential than is currently assumed. Correspondingly, a higher earthquake potential is indicated for the San Jacinto fault. The Imperial Valley GPS sites form part of a 183 station network in southern California and northern Baja California, which spans a cross-section of the North American-Pacific plate boundary.

Larsen, Shawn↗
NASA NTRS1986

Geodetic measurement of deformation in the central Mojave Desert, California

Data from triangulation and trilateration surveys made during 1934-1982 are used to calculate shear strain rates in the central Mojave Desert of California. For the region between the Helendale and Camp Rock faults the shear strain rate was determined to be 0.16 + or - 0.03 microstrain/yr, with maximum right-lateral shear strain occurring on a plane oriented N41 deg W + or - 5 deg. If this deformation is due to right-lateral motion across the northwest trending local faults, the average shear straining corresponds to a relative displacement of 6.7 + or - 1.3 mm/yr across this portion of the network, accounting for about 12 percent of the predicted 56 mm/yr of relative motion between the North Atlantic and Pacific plates. From the Camp Rock fault eastward across the network there is a transition from significant to very low strain rates. Examination of nine focal mechanisms and their relation to the local geology and the strain data suggests that most of the long-term displacement occurs on the major northwest trending faults oriented nearly along the direction of relative motion between the North American and Pacific plates. Secondary faulting, controlled by a Coulomb-Anderson failure mechanism or by slip on preexisting faults can account for the occurrence of earthquakes on faults of other orientations.

Sauber, Jeanne↗
NASA NTRS1994

Scientific analysis of satellite ranging data

A network of satellite laser ranging (SLR) tracking systems with continuously improving accuracies is challenging the modelling capabilities of analysts worldwide. Various data analysis techniques have yielded many advances in the development of orbit, instrument and Earth models. The direct measurement of the distance to the satellite provided by the laser ranges has given us a simple metric which links the results obtained by diverse approaches. Different groups have used SLR data, often in combination with observations from other space geodetic techniques, to improve models of the static geopotential, the solid Earth, ocean tides, and atmospheric drag models for low Earth satellites. Radiation pressure models and other non-conservative forces for satellite orbits above the atmosphere have been developed to exploit the full accuracy of the latest SLR instruments. SLR is the baseline tracking system for the altimeter missions TOPEX/Poseidon, and ERS-1 and will play an important role in providing the reference frame for locating the geocentric position of the ocean surface, in providing an unchanging range standard for altimeter calibration, and for improving the geoid models to separate gravitational from ocean circulation signals seen in the sea surface. However, even with the many improvements in the models used to support the orbital analysis of laser observations, there remain systematic effects which limit the full exploitation of SLR accuracy today.

Smith, David E.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites

The local ties between Satellite Laser Ranging stations and other collocated geodetic stations are an important component of the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame but the survey accuracies are limited due to the inaccessibility of the instrument reference points. The NASA Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites (GRITSS) technology demonstration mission is designed to overcome this limitation by using a small satellite as a space-based reference point for tying together the measurement points of collocated geodetic stations. The GRITSS instrument upconverts the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals received at the satellite in real-time to S and X band and transmits them to a VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) antenna ground station. The measurement observables do not require the satellite to be in view of more than one VLBI station at a time. The GRITSS demonstration mission utilizes a 12-UL CubeSat in a Low Earth, Sun Synchronous orbit. Tracking by the global ILRS network throughout the life of the mission is critical to establishing the space-based reference along with the precision orbit determination required by the measurement concept. Due to limitations in spacecraft power and other constraints, the initial phase of the mission will only broadcast the GRITSS VLBI signals twice a day to each of the NASA VGOS stations in Maryland, Hawaii, and Texas, but other international VGOS stations may be added during the second half of the mission. An overview of the GRITSS mission and measurement concept will be presented.

Stephen M Merkowitz↗
NASA NTRS1994

Global and regional kinematics with GPS

The inherent precision of the doubly differenced phase measurement and the low cost of instrumentation made GPS the space geodetic technique of choice for regional surveys as soon as the constellation reached acceptable geometry in the area of interest: 1985 in western North America, the early 1990's in most of the world. Instrument and site-related errors for horizontal positioning are usually less than 3 mm, so that the dominant source of error is uncertainty in the reference frame defined by the satellites orbits and the tracking stations used to determine them. Prior to about 1992, when the tracking network for most experiments was globally sparse, the number of fiducial sites or the level at which they could be tied to an SLR or VLBI reference frame usually, set the accuracy limit. Recently, with a global network of over 30 stations, the limit is set more often by deficiencies in models for non-gravitational forces acting on the satellites. For regional networks in the northern hemisphere, reference frame errors are currently about 3 parts per billion (ppb) in horizontal position, allowing centimeter-level accuracies over intercontinental distances and less than 1 mm for a 100 km baseline. The accuracy of GPS measurements for monitoring height variations is generally 2-3 times worse than for horizontal motions. As for VLBI, the primary source of error is unmodeled fluctuations in atmospheric water vapor, but both reference frame uncertainties and some instrument errors are more serious for vertical than horizontal measurements. Under good conditions, daily repeatabilities at the level of 10 mm rms were achieved. This paper will summarize the current accuracy of GPS measurements and their implication for the use of SLR to study regional kinematics.

King, Robert W.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Central Bureau Status and Perspective

The Central Bureau continues to promote the IGS organization, data and data products as setting the world standard for GPS/GNSS geodetic applications as outlined in the IGS Strategic Plan. The Central Bureau was responsible for the organization of the strategic planning process, preparation of all documents, and the editing and publication of the plan. This was a major activity and the Board s consensus on the plan is a significant milestone in the evolution of the IGS. The Central Bureau is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Service. With 200 organizations in over 80 countries and a ground network of approx. 350 stations, this requires daily interfaces on many different levels globally. The separate summary of the IGS Network Coordinator is included in this annual report and demonstrates the vital technical tasks of the Central Bureau. The CB is also responsible to arrange and organize all Board activities and is involved in the supporting the planning and logistics of all IGS workshops and meetings.

Neilan, Ruth↗
NASA NTRS1999

Orbit Determination for Mars Global Surveyor During Mapping

The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft reached a low-altitude circular orbit on February 4, 1999, after the termination of the second phase of aerobraking. The MGS spacecraft carries the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) whose primary goal is to derive a global, geodetically referenced 0.2 deg x 0.2 deg topographic grid of Mars with a vertical accuracy of better than 30 meters. During the interim science orbits in the' Hiatus mission phase (October - November 1997), and the Science Phasing Orbits (March - April, 1998, and June - July 1998) 208 passes of altimeter data were collected by the MOLA instrument. On March 1, 1999 the first ten orbits of MOLA altimeter data from the near-circular orbit were successfully returned from MGS by the Deep Space Network (DSN). Data will be collected from MOLA throughout the Mapping phase of the MCS mission, or for at least one Mars year (687 days). Whereas the interim orbits of Hiatus and SPO were highly eccentric, and altimeter data were only collected near periapsis when the spacecraft was below 785 km, the Mapping orbit of MGS is near circular, and altimeter data will be collected continuously at a rate of 10 Hz. The proper analysis of the altimeter data requires that the orbit of the MGS spacecraft be known to an accuracy comparable to that of the quality of the altimeter data. The altimeter has an ultimate precision of 30 cm on mostly flat surfaces, so ideally the orbits of the MGS spacecraft should be known to this level. This is a stringent requirement, and more realistic goals of orbit error for MGS are ten to thirty meters. In this paper we will discuss the force and measurement modelling required to achieve this objective. Issues in force modelling include the proper modelling of the gravity field of Mars, and the modelling of non-conservatives forces, including the development of a 'macro-model', in a similar fashion to TOPEX/POSEIDON and TDRSS. During Cruise and Aerobraking, the high gain antenna (HGA) was stowed on the +X face of the spacecraft. On March 29, 1999 the HGA will be deployed on a meter long boom which will remain Earth-pointing while the instrument panel (including the MOLA instrument) remains pointed at nadir. The tracking data must be corrected for the regular motion of the high gain antenna with respect to the center of mass, and the success of the MGS determination during Mapping will depend on correctly accounting for this offset in the measurement model.

Lemoine, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Carrier phase ambiguity resolution for the Global Positioning System applied to geodetic baselines up to 2000 km

A technique for resolving the ambiguities in the GPS carrier phase data (which are biased by an integer number of cycles) is described which can be applied to geodetic baselines up to 2000 km in length and can be used with dual-frequency P code receivers. The results of such application demonstrated that a factor of 3 improvement in baseline accuracy could be obtained, giving centimeter-level agreement with coordinates inferred by very-long-baseline interferometry in the western United States. It was found that a method using pseudorange data is more reliable than one using ionospheric constraints for baselines longer than 200 km. It is recommended that future GPS networks have a wide spectrum of baseline lengths (ranging from baselines shorter than 100 km to those longer than 1000 km) and that GPS receivers be used which can acquire dual-frequency P code data.

Blewitt, Geoffrey↗
DOE OSTI2026

CHESS 2025: Waveform LiDAR data from NEON AOP surveys

This dataset provides Level 1 (L1) full-waveform light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data collected for the 2025 Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS). These data were acquired to enable characterization of vegetation structure and other three-dimensional features of the land surface, and to evaluate structural changes that may have occurred between a prior LiDAR acquisition in 2018 and the 2025 overflight. Waveform LiDAR data can provide more detailed information about objects on the ground than discrete point clouds typically do, and they are often used for granular target segmentation and characterization of subcanopy vegetation. The data were acquired over three study domains in the Upper Gunnison river basin: the upper East River watershed (CRBU); Almont Triangle and Taylor Canyon (ALMO); and Upper Taylor River watershed (UPTA) between 2025-06-13 and 2025-07-15. LiDAR data were acquired using the Optech Galaxy Prime Airborne LiDAR Terrain Mapper onboard the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). These are the primary waveform LiDAR data delivered by NEON and are provided per flightline in compressed Pulsewaves format, an open-source binary file standard. A Pulsewaves object comprises a two files: a pulse (.pls) file, which stores the geographic origin, outgoing vector, and metadata for every laser pulse emitted by the scanner, and a wave file (.wvs), which stores the sequential amplitude samples of the outgoing pulse and the returning signals. The files are published here in their compressed forms (.plz, .wvz). All waveform data were processed following the theoretical workflow described in the NEON L0-to-L1 Waveform LiDAR Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (Krause and Goulden 2022a); however, the Pulsewaves output format differs from a legacy format described in that document. Waveform amplitude samples are recorded at 1 nanosecond intervals. All coordinates are provided in meters. Horizontal coordinates are referenced in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone 13N and the World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 ensemble datum. Elevations are referenced to Geoid12A. Waveform data for the UPTA survey area were collected without incident and the published records are complete. However, both the ALMO and CRBU collections experienced issues that resulted in incomplete data for those areas. On collection day 2018-06-16 a hardware failure caused the waveform digitizer to lose data from the eastern edge of the ALMO site (Figure 22). The waveform data for flightlines 2–20 could not be extracted from the digitizer, and the data proved unrecoverable. As a result, a portion of the site does not have coverage with waveform data. Although no hardware failure was observed during collection over the CRBU area, final waveform files generated by vendor software contained only ~25% of the expected number of return pulses. After discovery, NEON initiated troubleshooting with the vendor. The root cause of the data ablation had not been identified at the time of publication. Additional data will be published in an update to this package if further recovery proves successful. CHESS Project Description: The Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) comprised a multi-week airborne remote sensing and field observation campaign in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, conducted in June and July of 2025. Airborne remote sensing was conducted by the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (NEON AOP), concurrent with a field campaign run by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Watershed Function Science Focus Area (SFA), and NASA-JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) program. Between June 10 and July 18, 2025, the NEON AOP flight team collected high-resolution aerial imaging spectroscopy and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data over three domains: the Upper East River (CRBU), Almont Triangle (ALMO), and the Upper Taylor Basin (UPTA). In coordination with the flights, a field campaign acquired ground-truth observations, including observations of vegetation composition, foliar traits, forest demography, and subsurface properties in 18 core sampling areas within the domains. Additional surface water observations were taken at over 380 point locations. All CHESS campaign datasets can be found within the CHESS ESS-DIVE data portal: https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/chess. Funding Acknowledgement: Field and remote-sensing data acquisition was performed under a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC24K1005). This work was also supported by the Watershed Function Science Focus Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗
NASA NTRS2002

Geodetic Results from Mark 4 VLBI

We present geodetic results of a series of 30 VLBI experiments recorded in Mark 4 mode at rates of 128 and 256 Mbps. The formal uncertainties of UT1, polar motion, and nutation offsets derived from these experiments are better than the corresponding uncertainties from NEOS-A experiments by a factor of 1.3-2. Baseline length repeatability for the series of 32 experiments over a period of one year is about 0.9 ppb. For comparison, NEOS-A length repeatability is about 1.4 ppb. We will discuss optimal use of Mark 4 in the design of future observing networks.

MacMillan, Daniel↗
DOE OSTI2020

Seismic tomography of compressional wave velocity and attenuation structure for Makushin Volcano, Alaska

Located in the central portion of the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, Makushin Volcano is among the most active volcanoes in the United States and has been classified as a very high threat by the National Volcano Early Warning System based on its eruptive history and proximity to the City of Unalaska and international air routes. In 2015, five standalone seismic stations and three mini seismic arrays of 15 stations each were deployed on Unalaska Island to supplement the Alaska Volcano Observatory permanent seismic network. This temporary array was operational for one year. Taking advantage of the increased azimuthal coverage and the array's increased earthquake detection capability, we developed body-wave Vp and Vp/Vs seismic images of the velocity structure beneath the volcano. Our results show a complex structure with the upper 4 km of the crust. The shallow high-Vp features possibly delineate remnant magma pathways or conduits. Low-Vp regions are found east of the caldera at approximately 4–8 km depth. This is in agreement with previous seismic tomographic work and InSAR-based geodetic models, which had identified this region as a possible long-term source of magma. A three-dimensional compressional wave attenuation model complemented the velocity models. In general, we observe regions of corresponding low P-wave velocity and high attenuation east of the summit caldera between 5 and 7 km depth, supporting the presence of a melt-rich zone. The absolute Vp values (5.5–6.0 km/s) in this region are consistent with the presence of a magma body with a mafic signature. Here, we suggest that a triggering mechanism that involves mafic injections into a more evolved shallow magma chamber is representative of the current magmatic system below the volcano, similarly to what petrological studies have inferred for past eruptions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1974

Earth's gravity field to the eighteenth degree and geocentric coordinates for 104 stations from satellite and terrestrial data

Geodetic parameters describing the earth's gravity field and the positions of satellite-tracking stations in a geocentric reference frame have been computed. These parameters were estimated by means of a combination of five different types of data: routine and simultaneous satellite observations, observations of deep space probes, measurements of terrestrial gravity, and surface triangulation data. The combination gives better parameters than does any subset of data types. The dynamic solution used precision-reduced Baker-Nunn observations and laser range data of 25 satellites. Data from the 49-station National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BC-4 network, the 19-station Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Baker-Nunn network, and independent camera stations were employed in the geometrical solution.

Gaposchkin, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Earth's gravity field to the eighteenth degree and geocentric coordinates for 104 stations from satellite and terrestrial data

Geodetic parameters describing the earth's gravity field and the positions of satellite-tracking stations in a geocentric reference frame were computed. These parameters were estimated by means of a combination of five different types of data: routine and simultaneous satellite observations, observations of deep-space probes, measurements of terrestrial gravity, and surface-triangulation data. The combination gives better parameters than does any subset of data types. The dynamic solution used precision-reduced Baker-Nunn observations and laser range data of 25 satellites. Data from the 49-station National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BC-4 network, the 19-station Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Baker-Nunn network, and independent camera stations were employed in the geometrical solution. Data from the tracking of deep-space probes were converted to relative longitudes and distances to the earth's axis of rotation of the tracking stations. Surface-gravity data in the form of 550-km squares were derived from 19,328 1 deg X 1 deg mean gravity anomalies.

Gaposchkin, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Suboceanic geodetic measurements

This paper reviews the needs for geodetic ties among sea-floor points and between such points and others on land, as well as the environmental constraints on potential systems for making such measurements. Underwater acoustic techniques provide the best opportunities, and an essential element on which to build acoustic systems - a precision-transponder system capable of making travel-time measurements over ranges of several kilometers with an accuracy of a few microseconds - is described. Finally, three particular systems are discussed. One uses direct transmission between transponders to achieve an accuracy of 1 part in 100,000 over ranges from a few meters to about a kilometer. The second, using a larger transponder network and an intermediate vehicle, can achieve similar accuracy over ranges up to about 10 km. The third is a composite acoustic global positioning system (GPS) which should be able to achieve subdecimeter accuracy over ranges of a few hundred kilometers.

Spiess, F. N.↗