A Laser System for Satellite Geodesy

Book excerpt: A novel laser system designed and developed for satellite illumination is based on the use of two ruby lasers. It obtains range with a Q-switched laser and angular information by photographing satellite-reflected high-energy normal-mode laser pulses against stellar fields. The Q-switched laser system, operated in a controlled multipulse mode, is capable of up to 10 range measurements in a single pumping period. This increases confidence in the validity of the measurements especially since they are obtained in the presence of the high background noise that is encountered in daylight range measurements. The difference in satellite range within a 400-microsec time frame has been observed by means of the multipulse approach. (Author).