The second LAser GEOdynamics Satellite (LAGEOS-II) was built by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) based on NASA's LAGEOS-I design. The system was launched on-board the Space Shuttle Columbia (ST-52) from Kennedy Space Center on October 22, 1992. The purpose of both LAGEOS satellites is to reflect laser beams back to a network of international laser tracking stations used in geodynamics research.