Abstract
Satellite laser ranging allows to measure distances to satellites equipped with retroreflectors in orbits up to 36000 km. Utilizing a higher powered laser, space debris laser ranging detects diffuse reflections from defunct satellites or rocket bodies up to a distance of 3000 km. So far space debris laser ranging was only possible within a few hours around twilight while it is dark at the satellite laser ranging station and space debris is illuminated by the sun. Here we present space debris laser ranging results during daylight. Space debris objects are visualized against the blue sky background and biases corrected in real-time. The results are a starting point for all space debris laser ranging stations to drastically increase their output in the near future. A network of a few stations worldwide will be able to improve orbital predictions significantly as necessary for removal missions, conjunction warnings, avoidance maneuvers or attitude determination.
Highlights
Satellite laser ranging allows to measure distances to satellites equipped with retroreflectors in orbits up to 36000 km
The daylight space debris laser ranging routine consists of the following steps: the tracking of the target is usually started at elevations above 15°
As soon as the target is visible with the 20 cm piggyback telescope the offsets to the predicted path and the time bias are calculated by the real-time detection software and the orbit used for tracking is immediately corrected to center the target within the field of view of the satellite laser ranging (SLR) telescope
Summary
Satellite laser ranging allows to measure distances to satellites equipped with retroreflectors in orbits up to 36000 km. Lasers with higher pulse energies and nanosecond pulse width were used to allow the detection of diffusely reflected photons measuring the distance with a single shot precision of approximately 1 m17,18 These reflected photons are distributed over a large area and can be detected by multiple stations across Europe. The visual image of the satellite is used to center the target in the field of view of the SLR telescope before starting the SLR search routine This is necessary to correct two line element[22] (TLE) space debris predictions which depending on the orbit can have inaccuracies up to 1 km[23]. The presented results should encourage the laser ranging community to participate— with increased performance—in a network of space debris laser ranging stations worldwide being able to rapidly improve orbit predictions of selected targets
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