Orbit Inclination: 109.90 deg
Period: 225.50 min
Perigee: 5,837 km
Apogee: 5,947 km

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Spacecraft Brief Description
LAGEOS (Laser Geodetic Satellite) was a very dense (high mass-to-area
ratio) laser retroreflector satellite which provided a permanent
reference point in ... a very stable orbit for such precision
earth-dynamics measurements as crustal motions, regional strains,
fault motions, polar motion and earth-rotation variations, solid earth
tides, and other kinematic and dynamic parameters associated with
earthquake assessment and alleviation. In conjunction with
appropriate laser-tracking systems, LAGEOS permitted extreme
precision-ranging measurements for both geometric mode
(multilateration) and orbital dynamic mode determinations of positions
of points on the earth. It was the first spacecraft dedicated
exclusively to high-precision laser ranging and provided the first
opportunity to acquire laser-ranging data that were not degraded by
errors originating in the target satellite. The high-accuracy range
measurements from this permanent-orbiting reference point were used to
accomplish many extreme precision earth-dynamics measurements required
by the earthquake hazard assessment and alleviation objectives of the
Earth and Ocean Physics Applications Program (EOPAP). The performance
in orbit of LAGEOS was limited only by degradation of the
retroreflectors, so many decades of useful life can be expected. The
high mass-to-area ratio and the precise, stable (attitude-independent)
geometry of the spacecraft, together with the orbit, made this
satellite the most precise position reference available. Because it
is visible in all parts of the world and has an extended operation
life in orbit, LAGEOS can serve as a fundamental standard for decades.
Auxiliary Information
Launch Date and Time : 1976-05-04 08:00:00
Epoch Date and Time : 1976-05-05
Orbit Type : Geocentric
Apogee(km) : 5946.
Perigee(km) : 5837.
Inclination : 109.8
Date of last update : 1992-03-09

http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/QuickLooks/lageosQL.html
http://nasascience.nasa.gov/missions/lageos-1-2
http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellite_missions/list_of_satellites/lag1_general.html