History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back SPACE GEODESY AND GEODYNAMICS: 60 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT L.V. Ryhlova, B.M. Shustov The history of space techniques of the old science of geodesy and the relatively new science – geodynamics in the cosmic epoch: from the launch of the First artifi cial satellite of the Earth to this day – is briefly described. Various methods of satellite observations for the solution of geodetic and geophysical tasks are discussed: visual (massively applied in the first decade of space era), photographic, synchronous photographic, photometric, laser (ranging), Doppler (radio), etc. The prospects of modern methods of studying the gravitational field and the shape of the Earth : satellite gradientometry and satellite altimetry are mentioned. Particular attention is paid to the very signifi cant contribution of the Soviet (Russian) scientists and engineers, that worked and work now at the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (formerly the Astronomical Council of the USSR Academy of Sciences) in the development of methods of space geodesy and geodynamics. Keywords: geodesy; geodynamics; artifi cial satellites of the Earth. Contacts: E-mail: rykhlova@inasan.ru Pp. 32-47.