Optical Ground Station (OGS) | observatory, telescope

 observatory, telescope

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The Optical Ground Station (OGS), installed in the Teide observatory 2400 above the sea level, was built as part of European Space Agency (ESA) long term efforts for research in the field of inter-satellite optical communications. The original purpose of the station, equipped with a telescope (1m aperture), is to perform the in-orbit test of laser telecommunications terminals on board of satellites in Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit. Since 2001, the ESA survey of Space Debris in the Geostationary Orbit and the Geostationary Transfer Orbit is also being carried out with a devoted wide field camera attached to the Ritchey-Chretien focus. Furthermore, approximately a third of the observing time is used for basic astronomical research from ESA and IAC science teams with dedicated instruments either in the coudé or in the Ritchey-Chretien foci.