Initial orbit determination results for the LARES satellite

Paper number

IAC-12,B4,2,1,x15153

Author

Prof. Ignazio Ciufolini, Università del Salento, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Antonio Paolozzi, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Erricos Pavlis, University of MAryland and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. John Ries, The University of Texas at Austin, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Rolf Koenig, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam, Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Richard Matzner, The University of Texas at Austin, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Victor Slabinski, US Naval Observatory, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Vahagn Gurzadyan, Yerevan Physics Institute, Armenia

Coauthor

Prof. Enrico Flamini, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Giampiero Sindoni, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Claudio Paris, Sapienza University Rome, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Hans Neumayer, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam, Germany

Year

2012

Abstract

LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) is a laser-ranged satellite deployed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). It is a spherical satellite covered with 92 retro-reflectors with a radius of 182 mm. Made of tungsten alloy, its weight is 387 kg, making it likely the highest mean density body in the Solar System.  LARES was launched on the 13^t^h$ of February 2012 and detected by radar soon after separation. Within a few days, it was acquired by laser ranging stations from all over the world. The VEGA launcher performed perfectly in its first flight by injecting the satellite in the nominal orbit with high accuracy. The measured LARES orbital elements: semimajor axis is 7827 km, orbital eccentricity is 0.0005 and orbital inclination is 69.45 degrees. 
The satellite is performing well, and laser returns are being collected and preprocessed by the laser ranging stations for distribution to the community by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS). The LARES data will be used for space geodesy, geodynamics and tests of General Relativity, in particular for the measurement of the frame-dragging effect, predicted by Einstein's gravitational theory; several years of observations are required to obtain a very accurate measurement of the effect. Ultimately, LARES has been designed for a few percent test of the frame-dragging effect, or gravitomagnetism. We will present a preliminary analysis of the LARES orbit determination results based on the laser ranging data collected by the ILRS.

Abstract document

IAC-12,B4,2,1,x15153.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,B4,2,1,x15153.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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