NASA's Laser Reflector Assembly (LRA) is a passive array of mirrors that provides a target for laser tracking measurements from ground stations. It supports the calibration and validation for the satellite orbit ephemeris that is computed from the Doppler Orbitography by Radiopositioning Integrated on Satellite (DORIS) instrument and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking measurements, but can also be used to suppose computation of the satellite orbit ephemeris.
Delivery of Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite data products will cease on November 1, 2026. Data users should transition now to alternative products from NOAA-21 and NOAA-20.
Suomi NPP data announcement