The International Laser Ranging Service: current status and future developments

In 1998 the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) was founded as the second space geodesy service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). In order to fulfill the requirements of modern space geodetic applications and in accordance with the other services, the ILRS is in the process of improving its capabilities of data and product delivery with shorter latencies and better inter-service compatibilities. Observing and data analysis strategies are optimized in order to accentuate the inherent strengths of laser ranging, especially in the subsequent combination with products of the other space geodetic techniques. Operational costs of the laser ranging network are being reduced by an increased degree of automation of the tracking stations, which requires improvements in station hardware and software, operational procedures, communication, and prediction accuracy.