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Article
Open AccessDetermination of the time-variable geopotential by means of orbiting clocks
Monitoring the time-variable geopotential identifies the mass redistribution across the Earth and reveals, e.g., climate change and availability of water resources. The features of interest are characterized b...
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Article
Open AccessThe LARES 2 satellite, general relativity and fundamental physics
LARES 2, successfully launched on July 13, 2022, is a new generation laser-ranged satellite. LARES is an acronym for LAser RElativity Satellite. The first LARES satellite was successfully launched on February ...
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Article
Assessment of degree-2 order-1 gravitational changes from GRACE and GRACE Follow-on, Earth rotation, satellite laser ranging, and models
We carry out a comprehensive analysis and assessment of degree-2 gravitational changes ΔC21, and ΔS21, estimated using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GFO), satellite lase...
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Article
A new laser-ranged satellite for General Relativity and space geodesy: IV. Thermal drag and the LARES 2 space experiment
In three previous papers we presented the LARES 2 space experiment aimed at a very accurate test of frame-dragging and at other tests of fundamental physics and measurements of space geodesy and geodynamics. W...
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Article
A new laser-ranged satellite for General Relativity and space geodesy: II. Monte Carlo simulations and covariance analyses of the LARES 2 experiment
In the previous paper we have introduced the LARES 2 space experiment. The LARES 2 laser-ranged satellite is planned for a launch in 2019 with the new VEGA C launch vehicle of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), E...
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Article
A new laser-ranged satellite for General Relativity and space geodesy: I. An introduction to the LARES2 space experiment
We introduce the LARES 2 space experiment recently approved by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The LARES 2 satellite is planned for launch in 2019 with the new VEGA C launch vehicle of ASI, ESA and ELV. The or...
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Chapter
Towards a One Percent Measurement of Frame Dragging by Spin with Satellite Laser Ranging to LAGEOS, LAGEOS 2 and LARES and GRACE Gravity Models
During the past century Einstein’s theory of General Relativity gave rise to an experimental triumph; however, there are still aspects of this theory to be measured or more accurately tested. Today one of the ...
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Article
Towards a One Percent Measurement of Frame Dragging by Spin with Satellite Laser Ranging to LAGEOS, LAGEOS 2 and LARES and GRACE Gravity Models
During the past century Einstein’s theory of General Relativity gave rise to an experimental triumph; however, there are still aspects of this theory to be measured or more accurately tested. Today one of the ...
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Chapter and Conference Paper
The Use of a Precise Reference Frame in Sea Level Change Studies
Long-term sea level variations are an important indicator of global climate change, and their measurement can provide critical information for determining the socio-economic impact of sea level change on coast...
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Article
The Accuracy Assessment of Precise Orbits Computed from Doppler Tracking Data
The use of the Guier-plane navigation solution in the accuracy assessment of precise orbits computed from doppler tracking data is investigated. Observation residuals obtained from the DORIS doppler tracking o...
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Chapter and Conference Paper
The Use of GPS Data for Global Gravity Field Determination
GPS tracking data collected by a low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite provides global and continuous coverage of the orbit. Consequently, this data set contains valuable information for both precise orbit determ...
