Space Geodesy Programme

During May 2007, Dr Ludwig Combrinck and Roelf Botha visited the Saudi Arabian Laser Ranging Observatory (SALRO) of the King AbdulAziz City of Science and Technology (KACST), on invitation from Dr. Attieh Al-ghamdi.

We agreed on collaboration in the future, and a Memorandum of Understanding will be drawn up towards this end. It was already agreed on collaboration according to a short, medium and long term plan:

• The short-term plan involves the establishment of tie between current systems of SALRO, as well as starting up of a research component for them

• The medium-term plan involves redesign of current systems that are becoming outdated

• The long-term plan involves the establishment of a LLR as well as VLBI facility in Saudi Arabia, towards a Fundamental Geodetic Station, in parallel with the developments in South Africa.

KACST entrance from the inside