Mandel Oliver, Sell Alexander, Chwalla Michael, Schuldt Thilo, Krauser Jasper, Weise Dennis, Braxmaier Claus
Appl Opt. 2020 Jan 20;59(3):653-661. doi: 10.1364/AO.378658.
Interferometric laser ranging is an enabling technology for high-precision satellite-to-satellite tracking within the context of Earth observation, gravitational wave detection, or formation flying. In orbit, the measurement system is affected by environmental influences, particularly satellite attitude jitter and temperature fluctuations, imposing an instrument design with a high level of thermal stability and insensitivity to rotations around the spacecraft center of mass. The new design concept presented here combines different approaches for dynamic heterodyne laser ranging and features the inherent beam-tracking capabilities of a retroreflector in a mono-axial configuration. It allows for a continuously adjustable distance between the optical bench and the location of its fiducial point, facilitating future inter-satellite tracking with nanometer accuracy, e.g., the next-generation gravity mission.
干涉激光测距是一种在地球观测、引力波探测或编队飞行等领域实现高精度卫星对卫星跟踪的关键技术。在轨道上，测量系统会受到环境影响，特别是卫星姿态抖动和温度波动，这就要求仪器设计具备高度的热稳定性，并且对围绕航天器质心的旋转不敏感。本文提出的新设计概念结合了动态外差激光测距的不同方法，并具有单轴配置后向反射器固有的光束跟踪能力。它允许光学平台与其基准点位置之间的距离连续可调，便于未来实现纳米精度的卫星间跟踪，例如下一代重力探测任务。
