Satellite laser ranging

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Laser Ranging System of the geodetic observatory Wettzell, Bavaria Wettzell Laser Ranging System.jpg
Laser Ranging System of the geodetic observatory Wettzell, Bavaria

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. The laser pulse can also be reflected by the surface of a satellite without a retroreflector, which is used for tracking space debris. [1]

Contents

Satellite laser ranging is a proven geodetic technique with significant potential for important contributions to scientific studies of the earth/atmosphere/ocean system. It is the most accurate technique currently available to determine the geocentric position of an Earth satellite, allowing for the precise calibration of radar altimeters and separation of long-term instrumentation drift from secular changes in ocean topography.

Its ability to measure the variations over time in 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: [2]

SLR provides a unique capability for verification of the predictions of the theory of general relativity, such as the frame-dragging effect.

SLR stations form an important part of the international network of space geodetic observatories, which include VLBI, GPS, DORIS and PRARE systems. On several critical missions, SLR has provided failsafe redundancy when other radiometric tracking systems have failed.

History

Satellite Laser Ranging Lustbuhel Satellite Laser Tacking.jpg
Satellite Laser Ranging

Laser ranging to a near-Earth satellite was first carried out by NASA in 1964 with the launch of the Beacon-B satellite. Since that time, ranging precision, spurred by scientific requirements, has improved by a factor of a thousand from a few metres to a few millimetres, and more satellites equipped with retroreflectors have been launched.

Several sets of retroreflectors were installed on Earth's Moon as part of the American Apollo and Soviet Lunokhod space programs. These retroreflectors are also ranged on a regular basis (lunar laser ranging), providing a highly accurate measurement of the dynamics of the Earth/Moon system.

During the subsequent decades, the global satellite laser ranging network has evolved into a powerful source of data for studies of the solid Earth and its ocean and atmospheric systems. In addition, SLR provides precise orbit determination for spaceborne radar altimeter missions mapping the ocean surface (which are used to model global ocean circulation), for mapping volumetric changes in continental ice masses, and for land topography. It provides a means for subnanosecond global time transfer, and a basis for special tests of the Theory of General Relativity.

The International Laser Ranging Service was formed in 1998 [9] by the global SLR community to enhance geophysical and geodetic research activities, replacing the previous CSTG Satellite and Laser Ranging Subcommission.

Applications

SLR data has provided the standard, highly accurate, long wavelength gravity field reference model which supports all precision orbit determination and provides the basis for studying temporal gravitational variations due to mass redistribution. The height of the geoid has been determined to less than ten centimeters at long wavelengths less than 1,500 km.

SLR provides mm/year accurate determinations of tectonic drift station motion on a global scale in a geocentric reference frame. Combined with gravity models and decadal changes in Earth rotation, these results contribute to modeling of convection in the Earth's mantle by providing constraints on related Earth interior processes. The velocity of the fiducial station in Hawaii is 70 mm/year and closely matches the rate of the background geophysical model.

List of satellites

List of passive satellites

Several dedicated laser ranging satellites were put in orbit: [10]

List of shared satellites

Several satellites carried laser retroreflectors, sharing the bus with other instruments:

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galileo (satellite navigation)</span> Global navigation satellite system

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar Laser Ranging experiments</span> Measuring the distance between the Earth and the Moon with laser light

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medium Earth orbit</span> Earth-centered orbit above low Earth orbit and below geostationary orbit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LARES (satellite)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BLITS</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geodetic Observatory Wettzell</span>

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References

  1. ↑ Kucharski, D.; Kirchner, G.; Bennett, J. C.; Lachut, M.; Sośnica, K.; Koshkin, N.; Shakun, L.; Koidl, F.; Steindorfer, M.; Wang, P.; Fan, C.; Han, X.; Grunwaldt, L.; Wilkinson, M.; Rodríguez, J.; Bianco, G.; Vespe, F.; Catalán, M.; Salmins, K.; del Pino, J. R.; Lim, H.-C.; Park, E.; Moore, C.; Lejba, P.; Suchodolski, T. (October 2017). "Photon Pressure Force on Space Debris TOPEX/Poseidon Measured by Satellite Laser Ranging: Spin-Up of Topex". Earth and Space Science. 4 (10): 661–668. doi: 10.1002/2017EA000329 .
  2. ↑ Pearlman, M.; Arnold, D.; Davis, M.; Barlier, F.; Biancale, R.; Vasiliev, V.; Ciufolini, I.; Paolozzi, A.; Pavlis, E. C.; Sośnica, K.; Bloßfeld, M. (November 2019). "Laser geodetic satellites: a high-accuracy scientific tool". Journal of Geodesy. 93 (11): 2181–2194. Bibcode:2019JGeod..93.2181P. doi:10.1007/s00190-019-01228-y. S2CID   127408940.
  3. ↑ Zajdel, R.; Sośnica, K.; Drożdżewski, M.; Bury, G.; Strugarek, D. (November 2019). "Impact of network constraining on the terrestrial reference frame realization based on SLR observations to LAGEOS". Journal of Geodesy. 93 (11): 2293–2313. Bibcode:2019JGeod..93.2293Z. doi: 10.1007/s00190-019-01307-0 .
  4. 1 2 Sośnica, Krzysztof; Jäggi, Adrian; Meyer, Ulrich; Thaller, Daniela; Beutler, Gerhard; Arnold, Daniel; Dach, Rolf (October 2015). "Time variable Earth's gravity field from SLR satellites". Journal of Geodesy. 89 (10): 945–960. Bibcode:2015JGeod..89..945S. doi: 10.1007/s00190-015-0825-1 .
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  9. ↑ Pearlman, Michael R.; Noll, Carey E.; Pavlis, Erricos C.; Lemoine, Frank G.; Combrink, Ludwig; Degnan, John J.; Kirchner, Georg; Schreiber, Ulrich (November 2019). "The ILRS: approaching 20 years and planning for the future". Journal of Geodesy. 93 (11): 2161–2180. Bibcode:2019JGeod..93.2161P. doi:10.1007/s00190-019-01241-1. S2CID   127335882.
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  15. ↑ Krzysztof, Sośnica (1 March 2015). "Impact of the Atmospheric Drag on Starlette, Stella, Ajisai, and Lares Orbits". Artificial Satellites. 50 (1): 1–18. Bibcode:2015ArtSa..50....1S. doi: 10.1515/arsa-2015-0001 .
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  20. 1 2 3 4 Pearlman, M.; Arnold, D.; Davis, M.; Barlier, F.; Biancale, R.; Vasiliev, V.; Ciufolini, I.; Paolozzi, A.; Pavlis, E. C.; Sośnica, K.; Bloßfeld, M. (November 2019). "Laser geodetic satellites: a high-accuracy scientific tool". Journal of Geodesy. 93 (11): 2181–2194. Bibcode:2019JGeod..93.2181P. doi:10.1007/s00190-019-01228-y. S2CID   127408940.
  21. ↑ Strugarek, Dariusz; Sosnica, Krzysztof; Jaeggi, Adrian (January 2019). "Characteristics of GOCE orbits based on Satellite Laser Ranging". Advances in Space Research. Elsevier. 63 (1): 417–431. Bibcode:2019AdSpR..63..417S. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2018.08.033. S2CID   125791718.
  22. ↑ Kazmierski, Kamil; Zajdel, Radoslaw; Sośnica, Krzysztof (October 2020). "Evolution of orbit and clock quality for real-time multi-GNSS solutions". GPS Solutions. 24 (4): 111. doi: 10.1007/s10291-020-01026-6 .
  23. ↑ Sośnica, Krzysztof; Thaller, Daniela; Dach, Rolf; Steigenberger, Peter; Beutler, Gerhard; Arnold, Daniel; Jäggi, Adrian (July 2015). "Satellite laser ranging to GPS and GLONASS". Journal of Geodesy. 89 (7): 725–743. Bibcode:2015JGeod..89..725S. doi: 10.1007/s00190-015-0810-8 .
  24. ↑ Sośnica, Krzysztof; Prange, Lars; Kaźmierski, Kamil; Bury, Grzegorz; Drożdżewski, Mateusz; Zajdel, Radosław; Hadas, Tomasz (February 2018). "Validation of Galileo orbits using SLR with a focus on satellites launched into incorrect orbital planes". Journal of Geodesy. 92 (2): 131–148. Bibcode:2018JGeod..92..131S. doi: 10.1007/s00190-017-1050-x .
  25. ↑ Sośnica, Krzysztof; Zajdel, Radosław; Bury, Grzegorz; Bosy, Jarosław; Moore, Michael; Masoumi, Salim (April 2020). "Quality assessment of experimental IGS multi-GNSS combined orbits". GPS Solutions. 24 (2): 54. doi: 10.1007/s10291-020-0965-5 .
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  28. ↑ Strugarek, Dariusz; Sośnica, Krzysztof; Arnold, Daniel; Jäggi, Adrian; Zajdel, Radosław; Bury, Grzegorz; Drożdżewski, Mateusz (30 September 2019). "Determination of Global Geodetic Parameters Using Satellite Laser Ranging Measurements to Sentinel-3 Satellites". Remote Sensing. 11 (19): 2282. Bibcode:2019RemS...11.2282S. doi: 10.3390/rs11192282 .
  29. ↑ Costes, Vincent; Gasc, Karine; Sengenes, Pierre; Salcedo, Corinne; Imperiali, Stéphan; du Jeu, Christian (2017-11-01). "Development of the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) for SARAL". In Kadowaki, Naoto (ed.). International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010. Vol. 10565. pp. 105652K. Bibcode:2017SPIE10565E..2KC. doi: 10.1117/12.2309261 . ISBN   9781510616196.

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