PAGEOS

The geodetic satellite PAGEOS ( Short for Passive Geodetic Satellite ) was a great balloon satellite, which was launched in 1966 for the purpose of the satellite - world network.

He had about 30 meters in diameter and a web height of about 4000 km. His thin shell of Mylar was inflated by chemical reactions in space and held their shape for several years despite speedy impacts of micrometeorites.

In the years 1969 to about 1972 thousands direction measurements were made on photographic plates at 46 mobile photographic observatories ( world power stations) and approximately 100 additional satellite cameras accounted for. The global survey network was constructed from over 100 terrestrial measurement lines between the 46 observatories, by two to four of these stations the satellite PAGEOS observed simultaneously. This special interface method is called Stellartriangulation.

PAGEOS freiäugig was clearly visible - like the beginning of about 2 (similar to the North Star ), towards the end like 3 to 4 mag ( as the balloon envelope began to collapse ). In July 1975, the satellite burned up in the upper atmosphere.

The satellite - world network ( completed in 1973 ) joined for the first time all of the continents and some islands with an accuracy of about 5 meters, which 10 - to 20 - times was more accurate than earlier Erdmessungen.