Lageos Database

Lageos

Welcome to the Lageos (Laser Geodynamics Satellite) Database!

LAGEOS I (Laser Geodynamics Satellite), launched in 1976, is a passive satellite designed to help scientists study the geodynamics of Earth. Geodynamics is the study of the motion of the earth and the forces and processes active in the interior of the Earth and how they affect the features of the Earth’s crust.

The publication dates of the documents in the Lageos Collection range from 1971-2003. Not intended to be comprehensive, the emphasis of the Lageos Collection is on programmatic and historic documents rather than the scientific papers which are readily found through the standard scientific indices.
An unusual feature of the Lageos Program is its international evolution. After Lageos I was built and launched by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, its success motivated the Italian Space Agency to undertake production of subsequent Lageos satellites. These were built using the MSFC drawings and were as identical to Lageos I as possible. They were launched into orbits like that of Lageos I, but with complementary inclinations that facilitated investigation of relativistic effects on the orbits. Hence the Lageos Program evolved from a U.S. program into an Italian Program. Also, the laser ranging to the satellites was performed by ground stations of many nations from the beginning.
Another unique aspect of the Lageos Program is that the retroreflectors on these inert satellites are expected to remain usable for hundreds of years, and the satellites themselves will stay in orbit for many thousands of years. Thus at the centennials of the Lageos launches, range data will probably continue to be generated and used for scientific investigations. This unusual longevity of the Lageos Program makes an archive of its early years valuable to future generations using the satellites.

To gain access to these documents, please make a note of the citations, including the "DATEPUB" field. Documents can be accessed in the Archives department during regular operating hours. You can also view the entire Lageos Bibliography in Adobe PDF format. 8p. For more information about archives, contact Anne Coleman at 256-824-6523 or email colemana@email.uah.edu.