Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 40, Issue 2, 0228002(2020)

Laser Ranging for Space Debris Using Double Telescopes with Kilometer-Level Distance

Mingliang Long1, Haifeng Zhang1,2、*, Huarong Deng1, Kai Tang1, Zhongping Zhang1,2, and Ali Zhang3
Author Affiliations
  • 1Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200030, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Space Object and Debris Observation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 21008, China
  • 3Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China
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    In this paper, using high-precision timers, photoelectric detectors, and other equipment, the laser transmitting and receiving system delays for a 60-cm receiving telescope aperture system at the Shanghai Observatory are measured and calibrated, with a transmitting telescope aperture of 21 cm. By comparing the result of a target measurement by a space debris laser ranging (SDLR) system on the ground with the measured results of the conventional target measurement, we find that the calibration error of delay is approximately 400 ps. On this basis, using a high-precision clock system in a laser ranging system, SDLR is achieved for the first time in China using a single telescope to send laser pulses and double telescopes with a distance of 2.5 km to receive laser echoes, solving the problem of detection range gate control of echo signals from the remote telescope. This system realizes a range distance of over 1000 km. The proposed method demonstrates the ability to receive laser echoes from space debris from a remote distance on the ground with multiple telescopes.

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    Mingliang Long, Haifeng Zhang, Huarong Deng, Kai Tang, Zhongping Zhang, Ali Zhang. Laser Ranging for Space Debris Using Double Telescopes with Kilometer-Level Distance[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2020, 40(2): 0228002

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    Paper Information

    Category: Remote Sensing and Sensors

    Received: Jul. 22, 2019

    Accepted: Sep. 19, 2019

    Published Online: Jan. 2, 2020

    The Author Email: Zhang Haifeng (hfzhang@shao.ac.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/AOS202040.0228002

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