Optical and laser determination of the Earth rotation parameters

The paper deals with current problems in parameters of the Earth's rotation, i.e., the location of Earth in space, in Russia and the world. Results of the determination of the Earth rotation parameters by optical techniques, satellite laser ranging and GLONASS/GPS satellite navigation systems are presented. Design of the nano- and picosecond emitters for laser ranging devices of 2/sup nd/ and 3/sup rd/ generation and the representation of tracking results are described in detail.