History of Satellite Laser Ranging in Australia

Notes:

1. Originally prepared in March 2004 by John Pugh of Geoscience Australia

2. The magenta coloured notes relate to world wide events.

3. The light blue notes relate to world wide improvements in technology and the effects on accuracy.

4. MOBLAS (MOBile LAser System)

1962	Initial proposal to use satellite laser ranging for geodesy.
1964	First use of satellite laser ranging by the USA's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the USA to measure the orbit height of the Beacon explorer b satellite fitted with retroreflectors, to within 3 metres. The position of the station was measured to within 30 metres.
1965	Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) station set up by the USA's Smithsonian Institute for space tracking in the Orroral valley outside of Canberra.
1968, 16 October	Australia signed treaty with United States of America for scientific and technical co-operation, designated the “hornig” treaty.
1969	Satellite laser ranging improved to provide position of stations to 20 metres.
1969	Australian National University used a laser through their 26 inch telescope on Orroral to “view” reflector setup by Neil Armstrong on the moon for lunar laser ranging.
1973, March	Agreement signed between Australia's National Mapping (Natmap) and NASA under the USA Australia hornig treaty for co-operation on the construction of a lunar laser ranging facility at Orroral in ACT, further up the valley from the SAO facility.
1973	Start of approval and planning process for the construction of Orroral geodetic observatory for lunar laser ranging.
1974	With new technology satellite laser ranging is able to range satellites to 1 decimetre, lunar ranging to 1 metre, and provides position of stations to 5 metres.
1974	Telescope and ruby laser transferred from Mt Lemmon in Arizona to Orroral by NASA.
1975, March	Orroral building commissioned after co-operation in construction and equipping between Natmap, NASA and SAO. Construction contracted out with operation of facility by Natmap personnel.
1976:	SAO tracking facility in Orroral valley commenced satellite laser ranging.
1979	Satellite laser ranging improved to range satellite positions to less than 1 decimetre.
1979	Satellite laser ranging used to define orbits to calibrate altimeter satellite positions to measure land and sea levels.
1979	MOBLAS-5 established at Yarragadee in Western Australia by NASA, operated under contract by Fairey Australia Ltd through then Australian Space Office acting as the Australian contracting agency.
1981	Contract signed between Natmap and NASA to convert Orroral to lunar and artificial satellite laser ranging.
1983	SAO facility in Orroral valley ceased satellite laser ranging.
1983	Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) Ltd took over contract as facilities manager and operator at MOBLAS-5.
1983	New telescope mount, ND:YAG laser and upgraded computerised operation system installed at Orroral.
1984	Conversion of Orroral from lunar laser ranging to lunar and artificial satellite laser ranging completed.
1984	Satellite laser ranging used to range satellites to within a few centimetres.
1984	Satellite laser ranging provides data with ability to measure plate tectonics.
1985	SAO tracking station in Orroral valley closed with some equipment transferred to Tidbinbilla deep space tracking facility.
1987	Natmap amalgamated with the Australian Survey Office to form Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG).
1987	Ground targets installed and surveyed at Orroral to calibrate the system accurately.
1989	Satellite laser ranging improved to range orbits of satellites to less than a centimetre and provide positions of the stations to 1-2 centimetres.
1990	BAE Systems, Australia took over as contractor for facilities manager and operator at MOBLAS-5.
1991, March	Completion of upgrade of Orroral for low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites.
1994	Satellite laser ranging measures contemporary tectonic plate motion to millimetres per year resolution.
1994	Satellite laser ranging in conjunction with altimeter satellites gives centimetre ocean topography and wave height, and shows 3 millimetres per year rates in global mean sea level rise.
1995	AUSLIG becomes a regional analysis centre for the processing of satellite laser ranging data to contribute to many international organisations and for local monitoring of sea level.
1995, 19 December	10 year agreement signed for further joint co-operation in geodesy between NASA and AUSLIG. This agreement covers Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and satellite laser ranging.
1996	CSIRO Division of Telecommunications and Industrial Physics (TIP) became Australian contracting agency for MOBLAS-5.
1997, 3 November	Contract for construction and operation of new satellite laser ranging system on Mount Stromlo signed between AUSLIG and Electro Optic Systems (EOS).
1998	Satellite laser ranging measures tidally induced motion of the geocentre of the earth.
1998, 1 March	AUSLIG took over as Australian contracting agency from TIP for MOBLAS-5, and assumed a 50/50 responsibility for operational funding with NASA for one year. NASA continues engineering and spare parts support at their own cost.
1998, 19 June	EOS passes systems acceptance tests at Mount Stromlo satellite laser ranging facility.
1998, 22 September	International laser ranging service (ILRS) formed by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) with approval of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS). At the time, the service supported and prioritised satellite laser ranging to 22 satellites. SLR accepted as a fundamental data source in the international terrestrial reference frame.
1998, 28 October	EOS passed services acceptance tests at Mount Stromlo. Regular data flow started next day.
1998, 31 October	Satellite laser ranging ceased at Orroral. Whilst based at Orroral, its staff also the responsibility for the Photographic Zenith Tube (PZT) and Australia’s National Time Service
1998, 30 November	Orroral site vacated.
1999, 1 March	AUSLIG took over full responsibility for MOBLAS-5 operational funding. NASA remained responsible for upgrades and logistic support of the facility with intention to replace the system with a new SLR2000 when available.
1999, 11 May	Orroral telescope dispatched to white sands, New Mexico, USA, for use by NASA.
1999, 29 November	Orroral facility demolished leaving observatory building and dome intact. Site restored to nearly original condition.
2000	The analysis centre at AUSLIG submitted the first ever 10 year global satellite laser ranging solutions for Lageos 1 and 2 for the international terrestrial reference frame 2000 (ITRF2000).
2001, 21 September	AUSLIG amalgamated with AGSO Geoscience Australia to form Geoscience Australia (GA).
2003, 18 January	The satellite laser ranging facility on Mount Stromlo totally destroyed by bushfires.
2003, 4 July	Contract signed between GA and EOS Space Systems Pty Ltd (EOS) for the rebuilding of the satellite laser ranging facility on Mount Stromlo.
2003, 10 September	Contract signed between GA and EOS for the facilities management and operation of the satellite laser ranging facility on Mount Stromlo. Contract to commence after successful services acceptance tests.
2003, 30 December	The satellite laser ranging facility on Mount Stromlo     completed by EOS ready for trialling the system.
2004, April	The SLR facility and Space Research Centre on Mount Stromlo officially opened.
2004, July	MOBLAS-5 operations and maintenance contract from GA to EOS came into effect. NASA continues to provide logistics support.
2004, 1 December	The satellite laser ranging facility approved for operation after successful services acceptance tests.
2013	MOBLAS-5 operations and maintenance managed directly by GA.
2016, 2 June	At its meeting of 2 June 2016, the ACT Heritage Council decided to register the obsolete <a href=”orroral.htm”>Natmap Orroral Geodetic Observatory</a>.
Thanks to Dan Jaksa for kindly providing the above summary. More information is available at : http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/positioning-navigation/geodesy/geodetic-techniques/satellite-laser-ranging-slr A good overview document is available via this link and YouTube has many videos, of varying quality and depth, on the subject.

Satellite Laser Ranging Photographs

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility – open dome

Lunar laser ranging retroreflector arrays : (left) by Apollo 11 astronauts on July 21, 1969, at Sea of Tranquility, (centre) at Fra Mauro by Apollo 14 mission and (right) at Hadley Rille by Apollo 15 mission; two Russian retroreflectors are located in the Sea of Rains and the Sea of Serenity, respectively.

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility – optics

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility – laser pulse transmission

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility – laser testing

Natmap/AUSLIG Orroral facility – control room

Natmap/AUSLIG Stromlo facility

GA Stromlo facility after January 2003 bushfire

GA Stromlo facility 2004