The Experiment and results of Laser Ranging to Space Debris

TL;DR

This paper reports on China's initial laser ranging experiments to space debris, demonstrating high-precision measurements with successful detection of signals from targets up to 900 km away, aiding collision avoidance efforts.

Contribution

It presents the first laser ranging experiments to space debris in China, detailing system performance and experimental results from 2008 and 2010.

Findings

Range precision of about 60-80cm achieved

Strong return signals from targets at 900 km

Successful demonstration of laser ranging system capabilities

Abstract

Space debris is a major problem for all space-active nations. Adopting high precision measuring techniques will help to produce the reliable and accurate catalogue for space debris and collision avoidance. Laser Ranging is a kind of real-time measuring technology with high precision for space debris observation. The first experiment of laser ranging to the space debris in China was performed at the Shanghai Observatory in July 2008 at the ranging precision of about 60- 80cm. The experiment results show that the return signals from the targets with the range of 900 km were quite strong with the power of 40W (2J@20Hz), 10ns pulse width laser at 532nm wavelength. The performances of preliminary laser ranging system and the observed results in 2008 and 2010 are introduced in the paper.