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

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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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the association Schwäbische Sternwarte e.V. for support and hosting the DLR observatory at their facilities for many years and Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg for their support as well.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, Stuttgart, Germany

    Leif Humbert, Daniel Hampf, Paul Wagner, Fabian Sproll & Wolfgang Riede

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  1. Leif Humbert
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  2. Daniel Hampf
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  3. Paul Wagner
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  4. Fabian Sproll
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  5. Wolfgang Riede
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Correspondence to Leif Humbert.

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Humbert, L., Hampf, D., Wagner, P. et al. Innovative laser ranging station for orbit determination of LEO objects with a fiber-based laser transmitter. CEAS Space J 8, 59–63 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-015-0106-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-015-0106-0

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