Vogel, Moritz und Bartels, Nils und Feiling, Maximilian und Kästel, Jürgen und Scharring, Stefan und Riede, Wolfgang und Dekorsy, Thomas (2025) Flat retroreflective arrays and foils for satellite laser ranging. Acta Astronautica, 236, Seiten 756-754. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.07.021. ISSN 0094-5765.
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Offizielle URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576525004515?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=96631b866d311603
Kurzfassung
Retroreflective structures play an important role in laser-based space applications, serving as navigation aids for spacecraft docking and enabling precise orbit determination through satellite laser ranging. These structures must deliver a high return signal over long distances while being durable, and capable of operating in the challenging conditions of space for extended periods. Flat retroreflective structures such as retroreflective foils would be beneficial to ensure a seamless integration with various satellites, particularly CubeSats. This study analyzes the far-field diffraction patterns of various commercially available retroreflective foils, which are crucial for calculating the optical cross-section. While the retroreflected signal from these foils is notably weaker than that of conventional corner-cube retroreflectors of equivalent area, it remains several orders of magnitude stronger than that of a diffusely reflecting surface. Beyond conventional retroreflective foils, which rely on arrays of microprisms, we explore the potential of flat retroreflective structures based on metasurfaces. These nanostructures offer intriguing possibilities, such as wavelength-dependent retroreflection, and may be engineered for compatibility with space environment. In the future, such advanced designs could enable innovative applications like satellite identification or attitude determination. Moreover, we theoretically analyze how the changing attitude of the satellite affects the return signal of potentially coherently retroreflecting arrays.
elib-URL des Eintrags: | https://elib.dlr.de/215533/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dokumentart: | Zeitschriftenbeitrag | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Titel: | Flat retroreflective arrays and foils for satellite laser ranging | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Autoren: |
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Datum: | 19 Juli 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Erschienen in: | Acta Astronautica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Referierte Publikation: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | Nein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Ja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Band: | 236 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.07.021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seitenbereich: | Seiten 756-754 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verlag: | Elsevier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 0094-5765 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | veröffentlicht | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stichwörter: | Satellite laser rangingSLRSpace debrisRetroreflectorRetroreflective foilSpace traffic managementMetasurface | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Forschungsbereich: | Luftfahrt, Raumfahrt und Verkehr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Programm: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Programmthema: | Technik für Raumfahrtsysteme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Schwerpunkt: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Forschungsgebiet: | R SY - Technik für Raumfahrtsysteme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Teilgebiet (Projekt, Vorhaben): | R - Smarte Retroreflektoren | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standort: | Stuttgart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institute & Einrichtungen: | Institut für Technische Physik > Aktive optische Systeme Institut für Technische Physik > Festkörperlaser und Nichtlineare Optik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hinterlegt von: | Vogel, Moritz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hinterlegt am: | 26 Sep 2025 09:14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Letzte Änderung: | 26 Sep 2025 09:14 |
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