During the period between Lageos launch through completion of the Crustal Dynamics Project at the end of 1991, the satellite ranging technique has evolved into one of the fundamental geophysical and geodetic measurement techniques.

We report the results of detailed numerical calculations of the thrust on the rapidly spinning LAGEOS spacecraft. The thrust results from anisotopic emission of thermal radiation from the surface. LAGEOS is a good test for such calculations because of its relatively simple structure and because precise orbit determination based on laser ranging give observed thrust effects of comparison.

The Lense-Therring effect, a tiny perturbation of teh orbit of a particle caused by the spin of the attracting body, was accurately measured with the use of the data of two laser-ranged satellites, LAGEOS and LAGEOS II, and the earth gravitational model EGM-96. The parameter mu which measures the strength of teh Lense-Therring effect was found to be 1.1 plus or minus 0.2; general relativity predicts mu = 1.

Recent advances in Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) allow us to determine an improved value of the geocentric gravitational coefficient (GM) of 398600.4419+or-.0002 km (cubed)/sec (sq)(one sigma). This value is based on recent SLR observations of teh LAGEOS I satellite; general relativity predicts mu = 1.

The Goddard Library Catalog http://galaxie.gsfc.nasa.gov/uthbin/cgisirsi/cTOPJUHELU/24970022/123 and Mission and Spacecraft Library JPL http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov//QuickLooks/lageosQL.html

LAGEOS commemorative metal medalion.

This annual report is also available through the I LRS website at URL http://ilrs.qsfc.nasa.gov/reports/ilrs_reports/ilrsar_2002.html

Orbital operations wiht the National Aeronautics and Space Administration laser geo dynamic satellite (Lageos) will require the cooperation of almost 13 foreign nations.

Articles, photographs, documents, and artifacts pertaining to LAGEOS.

Articles, photographs, documents, and artifacts pertaining to LAGEOS.