Daylight space debris laser ranging.
Journal
Nature communications
ISSN: 2041-1723
Titre abrégé: Nat Commun
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101528555
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Aug 2020
04 Aug 2020
Historique:
received:
16
03
2020
accepted:
22
06
2020
entrez:
6
8
2020
pubmed:
6
8
2020
medline:
6
8
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Satellite laser ranging allows to measure distances to satellites equipped with retroreflectors in orbits up to 36000 km. Utilizing a higher powered laser, space debris laser ranging detects diffuse reflections from defunct satellites or rocket bodies up to a distance of 3000 km. So far space debris laser ranging was only possible within a few hours around twilight while it is dark at the satellite laser ranging station and space debris is illuminated by the sun. Here we present space debris laser ranging results during daylight. Space debris objects are visualized against the blue sky background and biases corrected in real-time. The results are a starting point for all space debris laser ranging stations to drastically increase their output in the near future. A network of a few stations worldwide will be able to improve orbital predictions significantly as necessary for removal missions, conjunction warnings, avoidance maneuvers or attitude determination.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32753617
doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17332-z
pii: 10.1038/s41467-020-17332-z
pmc: PMC7403592
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
3735Subventions
Organisme : European Space Agency (ESA)
ID : AO/1 - 9060/17/DE/MRP, P3-SST-I
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