Conveners
Space: Space Geodesy Session
- Stoffel Fourie (TUT)
Space: Matjiesfontein Space Geodesy station
- Stoffel Fourie (TUT)
Mr
Roelf C Botha
(HartRAO)
30/09/2014, 11:30
Oral and Poster Presentation
HartRAO has been planning and developing a Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) for the past 10 years. This system will also be used for Satellite Laser Ranging during available operational time. We already have a 1 m optical telescope as well as a functional control room. We are now at the stage of procuring the remaining hardware components and implementing these according to the overall system...
26.
Variable link equation parameters and expected photon returns for the HartRAO Lunar Laser Ranger
Mr
Sphumelele Ndlovu
(Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory:Space Geodesy)
30/09/2014, 11:45
Oral and Poster Presentation
The HartRAO Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) system requires a state-of-the-art software tool that enables optimal efficiency and signal path parameter estimation. The existing link budget equation estimates the number of return photons for given conditions and LLR system parameters. This equation is one of the essential mathematical tools that can be considered when developing an integrated system...
Ms
Nokwazi Purity Nkosi
(Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory:Space Geodesy)
30/09/2014, 12:00
Oral and Poster Presentation
The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, in collaboration with the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (OCA) and NASA are developing a dual Satellite/Lunar Laser Ranging system in South Africa. This project will strengthen the International Laser Ranging Service network and limit the biases caused by the under representation of satellite and lunar laser ranging in the Southern Hemisphere....
Mr
Philemon Tsela
(University of Pretoria)
30/09/2014, 12:15
Oral and Poster Presentation
Currently Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in South Africa is developing a Satellite/Lunar Laser Ranger (S/LLR) based on a 1 metre aperture telescope. This is done in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA). The S/LLR is required to make ranging observations with sub-centimetre level accuracy....
Mr
Cilence Munghemezulu
(HartRAO & UP)
30/09/2014, 12:30
Oral and Poster Presentation
The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in South Africa is currently developing a Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) system in collaboration with the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA) and NASA. The station will improve the current LLR network, especially in the Southern Hemisphere; this station will also contribute towards our current understanding of fundamental physics and the...
Ms
Zinhle Mashaba
(Centre for Geoinformation Science, Dept. Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria)
30/09/2014, 12:45
Oral and Poster Presentation
The Space Geodesy Programme of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) is actively engaged in improving the African Earth and ocean monitoring network by installing stations across the Sub-Saharan regions. This forms part of the drive to monitor different geophysical parameters via denser networks and with increasing accuracies, as to better our understanding of the Earth...
Mr
Leon Croukamp
(Stellenbosch University)
30/09/2014, 14:00
Oral and Poster Presentation
The donation of a 1 m Cassegrain telescope by France to HartRAO facilitated the development of a combined Satellite and Lunar Laser Ranger (S/LLR). The S/LLR will be located at Matjiesfontein, South Africa and will be collocated with a gravimeter, seismograph and a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receiver. In addition to the mentioned instruments, the site could be considered for...
Mr
Cornel Janse van Rensburg
(Stellenbosch University)
30/09/2014, 14:15
Oral and Poster Presentation
The Matjiesfontein Space Geodesy Observatory will be home to large and sensitive high-tech instruments which ought to be carefully transported to the observatory. The access road to and on the site itself intercepts five drainage channels and there are currently no existing structures to allow for safe and reliable passage. Three low-level river crossings were designed to withstand 1:20 year...
Ms
Susan Bothma
(Stellenbosch University)
30/09/2014, 14:30
Oral and Poster Presentation
The intention of this project is to investigate and analyse the requirements for the emplacement of the Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) at the Matjiesfontein Space Geodesy Observatory (MGO). To ensure accurate measurements and pointing to the exact location on the moon the LLR needs a very stable foundation. The foundation of the LLR should be such that it would cushion the smallest movement of the...
