Science
LAGEOS 1
Geodetic Laser Ranging · NASA
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A 60 cm brass sphere covered in 426 retroreflectors, LAGEOS-1 is the most precisely tracked object ever placed in orbit. Ground stations bounce laser pulses off it to measure distance within millimeters — tracking the slow drift of tectonic plates, the tiny wobble of Earth's axis, and how melting ice sheets redistribute Earth's mass. Launched in 1976, it carries a plaque showing Earth's continents as they'll look in 8 million years. LAGEOS is designed to survive that long.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Medium Earth Orbita high vantage point, ideal for navigation
- Altitude
- 3,631–3,699 mi (5,844–5,954 km)
- Inclination
- 109.8°
- One orbit
- 3.8 hours6.4 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 08820
- Int’l designator
- 1976-039A
- Launched
- 1976
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.