Satellite Laser Ranging

Umesh Gupta
S254516

Basic on Geomatics and Satellite Orbit

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What is SLR ?
In satellite laser ranging (SLR) a global network of observation
stations measures the round trip time of flight of ultrashort
pulses of light to satellites equipped with retroreflectors. This
provides instantaneous range measurements of millimeter
level precision which can be accumulated to provide accurate
measurement of orbits and a host of important scientific data.
It is the most accurate technique currently available to
determine the geocentric position of an Earth satellite and
many others applications.
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 Precise range measurement between as SLR ground station

and retro-reflector equipped satellite.
 (100 Hz to 2 kHz) lasers to improve data yield, improve
normal point precision.
 Use of ultrashort laser pulse for simple range measurement.

 Night/Day operation.

 Near real time global data.

 Satellite altitude from 300 km to geosynchronous satellite

and the moon.

 Cm satellite orbit accuracy.

 High accuracy and resolution .

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Background/Heritage
 Since 1964, NASA/GSFC has ranged with lasers to
spacecraft equipped with retroreflectors– Over 60 artificial
satellites beginning with Beacon Explorer22B in 1964
 5 lunar reflectors since the Apollo 11 landing in 1969
 Observable: Roundtrip time of flight of an ultrashort laser
pulse to and from onboard reflectors on spacecraft/Moon.
 Range precision is presently 1 to 2 mm (instrument limited).
 Absolute accuracy is sub-cm (atmosphere and target
limited).
 Single-Ended SLR technique is not applicable much
beyond lunar distances since the reflected signal strength
falls off as R-4.
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Simple Schematic Diagram :

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Working Principle :

The modern laser transmitter uses a mode locked laser

output frequency doubled to produce green light.
The laser which operates at a repetation rate of
between 5 to 10 Hz produce an ultrashort pulse.
The outgoing laser pulse contatining about
1017 photons is sampled by the range receiver which in
turn start a time of flight measurement.
The laser pulse propagates through the atmosphere is
reflected by a retroreflector array on board the satellite
return through the atmosphere to the source and is
collected on the groud by the receiver telescope.
Only a handful of the outgoing photons makes it back.
The epoch time of departure of the laser pulse is also
recoreded.
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Lunar reflector SLR Reflector

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Applications :
 Satellite Laser Ranging is a proven geodetic technique with
significant potential for important contributions to scientific
studies of the Earth/Atmosphere/Oceans system.
 SLR’s ability to measure the temporal variations in the
Earth’s gravity field and to monitor motion of the station
network with respect to the geocenter, together with the
capability to monitor vertical motion in an absolute system,
makes it unique for modeling and evaluating long-term
climate change by:
Providing a reference system for post-glacial rebound, sea level
and ice volume change.
Determining the temporal mass redistribution of the solid Earth,
ocean, and atmosphere system .
Monitoring the response of the atmosphere to seasonal
variations in solar heating.
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Laser Advantages :
 Ranging/timing instrumentation is more accurate (~1 mm) due
to availability of picosecond transmitters, detectors, and timers
in the optical regime.
 Divergence of transmitted optical beam is 4-5 orders of
magnitude smaller than microwaves for a given transmit
aperture (~ λ/D)
 More energy focused at the opposite receiver
 Smaller antennas (telescopes) and transmitters, more lightweight,
less prime power .
 Charged particles cannot follow optical frequencies so
 no propagation delays due to Earth’s ionosphere or the interplanetary solar
plasma
 no need for solar plasma models or correction via dual wavelength methods
.
 Optical atmospheric propagation delay uncertainties are
typically at the sub-cm level with ground measurements of
pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.
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Laser Disadvantages :
 Requires more precise pointing knowledge and control (but
well within SOA ) .
 Link availability affected by weather and clouds but can be >
99% via several globally distributed ground sites or three
orbiting terminals .
 As with any new technology, lasers have not yet
demonstrated space heritage, lifetime and reliability
comparable to more mature microwave transponders but
several laser altimeters have operated in Earth, Lunar, and
Mars orbit with another on its way to Mercury.
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References :
 https://ilrs.cddis.eosdis.nasa.gov/docs/slrover.pdf
 Laser Ranging to GPS Satellite with centimeter accuracy.
 Politecnico Materials support.
 ILRS

Thank You !!!!!!!