NASA installed the TLRS-3 system in Arequipa, Peru in 1990; the system experienced a brief hiatus in 2003 due to funding issues. The SLR station is operated by staff from the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin (UNSA). July 1, 2009 commemorated the 50-year anniversary of the Arequipa SLR station. Initial optical tracking observations began in the 1950’s using the Baker-Nunn Camera until 1975 and continued with the SAO ruby laser system starting in 1970. NASA permanently installed the TLRS-3 system in Arequipa in 1990. In addition, two GNSS receivers and a DORIS beacon are co-located with the SLR system.
SGP Project Manager Stephen Merkowitz, Network Operations Manager Rivers Lamb, and Claudia Carabajal visited the Space Geodesy Project's Satellite Laser Ranging Station TLRS-3 in Arequipa, Peru at the end of April 2019. Also in the picture below is the the TLRS-3 station manger and Instituto Astronúmico y Aeroespacial Pedro Paulet (IAAPP) Director Dr.
SGP Project Manager Stephen Merkowitz was interviewed by TVPerú in Spanish for a story on the NASA Satellite Laser Ranging Station TLRS-3 in Arequipa, Peru that aired on TVPerú Noticias. A version of the story was also aired in Quechua: https://youtu.be/wNyjMAAhS7M
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