Performance of a global network of laser-optical tracking stations for LEO space surveillance

Kurzfassung

We present preliminary results from a large system study to investigate the performance of a global laser-ranging network. In order to determine when favorable weather and lighting conditions for laser ranging can be expected at any particular site of a network of globally-distributed stations, we compiled daily weather parameters for cloud, wind and visibility from publicly available long-term weather data. For these observing times, synthetic laser ranging measurements are simulated for various types of LEO orbits and subsequently used for precise orbit determination. We derive state vector uncertainties that can be achieved as well as predicted uncertainty when propagating the orbit for a couple of days without any new measurements.