Arequipa, Peru

location of Arequipa site on a globe

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.


TLRS-3 at Arequipa

Recent news:

The Rector of the University of San Augustin in Arequipa, Peru, Dr. Rohel Sánchez Sánchez, visited the Instituto Astronómico y Aeroespacial Pedro Paulet (IAAPP) and the TLRS-3 Station 08/26/2021

The Rector of the University of San Augustin in Arequipa, Peru, Dr. Rohel Sánchez Sánchez, visited the Instituto Astronómico y Aeroespacial Pedro Paulet (IAAPP) and the TLRS-3 Station to commemorate legalizing UNSA ownership of the property that has been used by USNO to support NASA and other research activities for the past 62 years. The Manager of the TLRS-3 Station, Dr. P. Raul Yanyachi, is also featured in the video posted by UNSA TV on social media.

Watch video on social media

SGP Project Manager Stephen Merkowitz interviewed by TVPerú
05/31/2019

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.

SGP Project Manager and staff vistit the TLRS-3 station
05/31/2019

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. Pablo Raúl Yanyachi from the Universidad Nacional de San Agustún.

Related Links: