Current Progress of the RAEGE Project: A Spanish-Portuguese Collaboration in Geodesy

This presentation highlights the advancements in the Red Atlántica de Estaciones Geodinámicas y Espaciales (RAEGE), a collaborative Spanish-Portuguese geodetic infrastructure. The project envisions four VGOS radio telescopes: two in Spain (Yebes and Gran Canaria) and two in Portugal (Santa Maria and Flores, Azores). All stations will be equipped with a fast-moving high-sentitivity VLBI radiotelescope and its associated 2-14 GHz VGOS receiver, GNSS receivers, gravimeters and a local-tie network. Additionally, Yebes station has a state-of-the-art Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) system.

The RAEGE Yebes VGOS radiotelescope has been operational and a part of the VGOS core network since 2016. The RAEGE Santa Maria VGOS radiotelescope recently underwent extensive maintenance in 2021 and 2022, and high-temperature superconducting filters (HTS) to mitigate interference from space debris radar signals were installed in its VGOS receiver. Following these upgrades, it became part of the VGOS core network in October 2023.

Notably, the RAEGE Yebes SLR station completed the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) quarantine in October 2024 and is now fully operational within the ILRS framework.

Regarding RAEGE Gran Canaria station, the contracts for its construction were awarded in 2024, with civil works set to commence in early 2025.

Collectively, these developments underscore RAEGE's substantial contribution to global geodetic initiatives, aligning with UN resolution 69/266 and the objectives of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS). This presentation will provide an overview of the current status and future plans for the RAEGE network, emphasizing its role in fostering international collaboration to address scientific and societal challenges.