Lares

LAser RElativity Satellite

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General

Designation	38077 / 12006A
Launch date	13 Feb 2012
Country of origin	Italy
Mission	Geodesy
Perigee/Apogee	1442/1459 km
Inclination	69.5°
Period	114.7 min
Launch vehicle	Vega #1

For the Italian Space Agency (ASI)

Is a tungsten sphere with reflectors mounted in 92 holes punched into its surface. Claims to have the lowest ballistic coefficient of any satellite launched to date.

The main scientific goal is to test Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity using the international Laser Ranging Service (LRS) network to measure the frame-dragging or Lense-Thirring effect with very high accuracy.

sat-index articles

n2yo.com tracking

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	CGS Compagnia Generale per lo Spazio (subsidiary of OHB Group)
Platform
Mass at launch	400 kg
Dry mass
Dimension	36.4 cm diameter
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime

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