Steindorfer Michael A, Wang Peiyuan, Koidl Franz, Kirchner Georg
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 10;16(1):575. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55777-8.
Satellite laser ranging and space debris laser ranging are two closely related range measurement techniques with slightly different setups relying on different lasers. Satellite laser ranging measures light reflections of corner cube retro reflectors at mm-level range precision. Space debris laser ranging gathers diffuse reflections from the whole space debris object and offers a precision down to the sub meter-level. Within this work we show the usage of Megahertz lasers to combine the strengths of both systems within one setup. During the regular tracking schedule to scientific satellite laser ranging targets, specific space debris objects of interest can then be tracked without the need of making adaptions to the system. Megahertz satellite laser ranging measurements to the defunct Jason-2 satellite lead to a measurement precision down to a few μm when ranging to retro reflectors. Space debris laser ranging data reveals reflections from individual surfaces of the target and allows to draw conclusions on the rotational behavior.
卫星激光测距和空间碎片激光测距是两种密切相关的测距技术，它们的设置略有不同，依赖于不同的激光器。卫星激光测距以毫米级的距离精度测量角反射器的光反射。空间碎片激光测距收集整个空间碎片物体的漫反射，并提供低至亚米级的精度。在这项工作中，我们展示了使用兆赫兹激光器在一个设置中结合两个系统的优势。在对科学卫星激光测距目标的常规跟踪计划中，然后可以跟踪特定的感兴趣的空间碎片物体，而无需对系统进行调整。对已退役的杰森-2卫星进行兆赫兹卫星激光测距测量时，对角反射器测距的测量精度可低至几微米。空间碎片激光测距数据揭示了目标各个表面的反射，并允许得出关于旋转行为的结论。
