| NASA Center: |
Goddard Space Flight Center |
|---|
| Image # : |
L-76-3 |
|---|
| Date : |
01/01/1976
|
|---|
|
Title
Launch Preparation
Full Description
Inside the nose cone of this Delta rocket is Goddard's geophysics research
satellite, a 906-lb. (411-kg) satellite that looked more like a dimpled cosmic
golf ball. The spacecraft, which NASA launched from the Western Test Range in
California in 1976, provided a stable point in the sky to reflect pulses of
laser light. By timing the return of the laser beam to an accuracy of about one
ten-billionth of a second, scientists expected to measure the relative location
of participating ground stations within one inch or a few centimeters. These
measurements allowed scientists to track and analyze tectonic plate movement and
continental drift. The spacecraft, called the LAser GEOdynamics Satellite
(LAGEOS), was the precursor to the current-day Global Positioning System (GPS)
system operated by the Defense Department.
Keywords
Geodetic Laser Satellite Delta
Subject Category
Space Probes,
Reference Numbers
- Center:
GSFC
- Center Number:
L-76-3
- GRIN DataBase Number:
GPN-2000-001329
Source Information
- Creator/Photographer: NASA
- Original Source: DIGITAL
| Resolution | Format | Width
(Pixels) | Height
(Pixels) | Size
(KBytes) |
Thumbnail |
.jpg |
67 |
85 |
14 |
Small |
.jpg |
476 |
607 |
297 |
Medium |
.jpg |
1116 |
1422 |
1,366 |
Large |
.jpg |
1 |
2844 |
5,330 |
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Updated October 31, 2002
• History Questions: NASA History Office
• Responsible NASA Official: Steve Garber
• Author: Michael Hahn. Editor: Dwayne A. Day
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