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Keck Institute for Space Studies

Short Course:
Interplanetary Laser Trilateration Network

Monday, September 22, 2025

8:15 A.M. Coffee
8:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Short Course (Informal lunch will be provided for all attendees)
Chen 100 Lecture Hall, Chen Neuroscience Research Building, California Institute of Technology

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All interested researchers and students are invited to attend. No registration is required for the short course. Seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.


Interplanetary Laser Trilateration Network short course poster

Program:

Talk 1 – "Interplanetary Laser Trilateration Network" – Bruce Bills, JPL

  • Overview of Interplanetary Laser Trilateration Network
  • What are some chief science questions & challenges related to ILTN?
  • What measurements are needed to address these questions?
  • What is the relationship between: cadence of observations and accuracy of tie to center of mass of host planet?


Talk 2 – "High-Precision Solar System Dynamics with Improved Interplanetary Ranging" – Konstantin Batygin, Caltech

  • Overview of orbital dynamics in the solar system, emphasizing the role of chaos on both short timescales (planetary scattering) and long timescales (stability boundaries identified via high-precision numerical integrations).
  • The significance of asteroidal chaos in limiting the predictability of planetary orbits.
  • Potential of interplanetary ranging networks to detect unseen objects in the outer solar system.


Talk 3 – "Laser Ranging Beyond Lunar Distances" – Evan Hoffman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • The history and current state of ground-based satellite laser ranging network infrastructure
  • What models do we use to predict single-shot and normal point (averaged) precision and accuracy?
  • What do past and current 2-way (round-trip) and 1-way (dual laser/clock) laser ranging missions teach us about the engineering challenges of an ILTN?


Talk 4 – "Enabling Planetary Missions with ILTN" – Andrea Donnellan, Purdue University

  • ITLN characteristics
  • Planetary science goals that would benefit from ITLN
  • ITLN as infrastructure versus discovery-based mission
  • Requirements development
  • Community engagement
  • Advocacy and proposals


Talk 5 – "Future of Solar System Science with ILTN" – Mike Watkins, Caltech

  • How have the measurements for understanding Solar System Dynamics evolved over the past 50 years? 
  • What has the combination of flyby's, orbiters, and landers taught us so far about planetary orbital dynamics and planetary internal structure? What drives the limits of our current understanding?
  • Highlights of particular missions and measurements (planetary ephemeris development, gravity, seismometry, altimetry) 
  • How does ILTN continue that evolution?





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Parking:

Please make sure to only park in unmarked spaces or, if parking in the structure, park in spots marked "commuter."

JPLers: Use your JPL hangtag.
Visitors: Buy a parking permit.