Innovative laser ranging station for orbit determination of LEO objects with a fiber-based laser transmitter

Abstract

This work reports the successful implementation of a fiber-based laser transmitter on an already existing astronomical platform. To measure the time of flight for satellite laser ranging applications, pulse energies of a few 10 μJ are sufficient. Optical fibers endure small pulse energies and are therefore suitable to deliver the light from a pulsed laser source to a transmitting telescope. First laser ranging experiments with a pulsed infrared laser source were accomplished to a retroreflector at a distance of 5.3 km with a preliminary uncertainty of 21 cm.