LARES 2 [OHB-CGS]
LARES 2 (Laser Relativity Satellite 2) is a passive satellite with laser mirrors for the study of the Earth gravitational field and general relativity measurements (Lense-Thirring effect) and for geodetic purposes to improve the measurements on the LAGEOS 1 and 2 and LARES satellites.
LARES 2 is an improved version of LARES replacing the earlier LAGEOS 3 project, which was never funded. The main objectives of the LARES 2 experiment are accurate measurements of General Relativity, gravitational and fundamental physics and accurate determinations in space geodesy and geodynamics. In particular LARES 2 is aimed to achieve a very accurate test of frame-dragging, an intriguing phenomenon predicted by General Relativity.
LARES-2 is a sphere 36.4 cm diameter and a density of 15.3 g/cm3.
LARES-2 is to be launched on Vega-C's maiden flight.
Nation: | Italy |
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Type / Application: | Basic research, Geodesy |
Operator: | ASI |
Contractors: | |
Equipment: | 92 cube corner reflectors |
Configuration: | 40 cm sphere |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | None |
Lifetime: | Indefinite |
Mass: | 387 kg |
Orbit: | 5899 km × 5899 km, 70.16° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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LARES 2 | 2022-080A | 13.07.2022 | Ko ELV | Vega-C | with AstroBio Cubesat, GreenCube, CELESTA, TRISAT R, MTCube 2, ALPHA |