SLR Station Grasse/France

Last Update: December 15, 1994

Location

Grasse, France (43°45' N, 06°55' E, 1320 m)

Agency

Observatoire Cote d'AZUR

Address

Dr. Francis Pierron
CERGA - GRGS - Grasse
Observatoire de Calern
Caussols
F-06460 Saint Vallier de Thiey
France

Communication

Telephone         : (33) 93 405420
TELEX/TWX         : 042 461402 or 042 470865
Telefax           : (33) 93 092614
Electronic mail   : PIERRON@SLR.OBS-AZUR.FR
GE/MARK III       : slrcer
SPAN              : 29211::pierron
EARN/BITnet       :
Other networks    :

Status

Operational since: 1981; Quantel laser since 1984

Schedule

Operation hours per day     : 24
Operation days per week     : 5 days and 6 nights
Satellite tracking capacity : all satellites
Comments                    :

System

GRASSE

Number

Station number           : 7835
Instrument number        : 31
Instrument name          : GRASSE
Actual occupation number : 02
Start date               : December 23, 1983

Tracking

Single shot precision    : 1-2 cm
Laser system             : Quantel Nd:YAG Laser
Wavelength               : 532.0 nm
Pulse width              : 0.1 ns
Pulse rate               : 5 pps
Beam divergence          : 20-60 arcsec (adjustable)
Minimal elevation        : <5 degrees
Tracking capacities       
Daylight                 : yes
High flying satellites   : yes
Low flying satellites    : yes
Moon                     : separate system (GRASSE LLR)
ERS-1                    : yes

Site occupations

All occupations at the site including

Monument number          : 7835
Occupying System         :
Starting date            :
Ending date              :

Comments

Timing

Primary time standard       : Cesium
Time standard calibration   : Cesium controlled by TV and GPS
Estimated time tag accuracy : 

QL data                   0.5 microsec
FR data                   0.5 microsec

Time reference:

QL data                   BIH
FR data                   BIH

Station Computer

Computer type                               : UNIX station + DEC PDP 11-73
                                              (real time control)
Micro processor                             : I486 66Mhz + J11        
Operating System                            : UNIX + RSX 11 M plus
Capability of normalpoint generation at site: yes
Discette format used                        : 3.5"
Tape drive available                        : yes

Prediction used

Prediction programme for               LAGEOS         
                                       STARLETTE  IRVS's for all satellites
                                       Others        

Input files and medium of reception    LAGEOS     IRV's by ftp, internet
                                       STARLETTE  for all satellites
                                       Others

State vectors for ERS-1                                    yes
                                       rate
                                       coordinate system
                                       time reference      preferable IRV vector

Required prediction accuracy           daylight tracking   100-200 m
                                       nighttime tracking  100-200 m

Calibration

Post-pass calibration to external target at distance 30 m;
500 calibration ranges per pass; occasional target at distance 2 m
Flags regularly given in MERIT II format

System configuration             flag          1
                                 start date
                                 end date

Calibration method                             internal and external
receiver correction                            yes

Data delivery

Quick-look data                  medium   email
                                 agency   EDC, DGFI/I

Full rate data                   medium   anonymous ftp
                                 agency   EDC, DGFI/I

Geodetic reference

Monument number                : 7835
type of monument               : Geodetic marker IGN Mark (Caussols 3)
Monument inscription           : None
Coordinates on local datum     : N 43°45'07.99644", E 06°55'28.46344"
Elevation above mean sea level : 
Elevation above ellipsoid      : 1260.628 m
Survey source                  : GRGS-GCERGA-IGN
Date of survey                 : August 22, 1985 / December 1989
Datum/Ellipsoid                : European Datum E.D.50
Eccentricity to                                  geocentric coordinates 
Laser reference point          :                    -241.562 -224.772 282.12
Eccentricity to                  North East Up                          
Laser reference point          : N43deg.45'20.57682"E06deg55'19.79309" 1262.954

Geological Information

Tectonic plate                 : Eurasia
Geological province            : Prealps region of Grasse
Local geology                  : Secondary limestone plateau (about 20 km
                                 square in size) with sink holes and deep caves.


Comments to special geological characteristics:

Future Plans