Space Geodesy Centre

At the Space Station we were welcomed by Mr Garramone, the manager, in the assembly hall, who presented the main activities located at the CGS (Space Geodesy Centre) -, the joint effort of four authorities : the Italian National Space Plan of the National Research Council, the Region of Basilicata, the Italian Space Agency and Telespazio.

CGS provides a satellite monitoring service of the Mediterranean Sea – for the control of the marine pollution by – hydrocarbons – to the Italian Ministry of the Environment, and its instrumentation has made possible for the first time the determination of a 6 cm displacement of the earth’s axis, caused by the earthquaker and by the tsunami.

The gravimeter operating at the CGS is used for the experimental determination of the accelaration of gravity and for the calibration of the national gravimeter network. ASI/CGS Is a member of International Laser Ranging Service as observation station and data analysis centre for the interpretation of earth.

The Italian Space Agency dedicates to experimentation with institutional users of earth observation techniques, in support to the management of natural and anthropic disasters : floodins, landslides, fires, marine pollution by hydrocarbons, seismic and volcanic risks, air qualities issue.

Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (MLRO) is capabable to measure the distance to the Moon with mathematical precision, moreover the radio astronomy antenna receives from natural sources the radio waves which makes possible to measure earth’s rotation. Thanks to the space Geodesy, today it is possible to measure, with astonishing accuracy, and monitor the crustal deformation ,the postglacial bounce, the rotation of the Earth and its gravity.