GROUND-BASED LASER RANGING SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF ORBITAL DEBRIS

摘要

A ground-based laser ranging system and method are provided that enable meter-level or better ranging precision on optically passive 10-30 cm average-sized orbital debris targets. The system and method can improve current predictions by up to 85%. The improved location accuracy also provides the immediate benefit of reducing costly false alarms in collision predictions for existing assets and unidentified debris. The system can include one or more high power lasers that generate 1.5 μm wavelength laser pulses at >100 mJ pulse energies and at a repetition rate of from 10 Hz to 100 Hz.

主权项

1. A system of laser ranging tracking facilities for tracking an orbital debris target in low Earth orbit, the system comprising:
a plurality of laser ranging stations comprising at least two ground-based laser ranging stations separated from one another by at least 100 miles, each laser ranging station comprising a transmitter for transmitting a respective signal indicative of the orbit of the orbital debris target; a receiver configured to receive the signals from the laser ranging stations; a processor configured to process the signals received by the receiver into data sets each pertaining to the orbit of the orbital debris target; and a datastore configured to store the data sets pertaining to the orbit of the orbital debris target, wherein at least one of the ground-based laser ranging stations comprises a high power laser configured to provide laser pulses at a wavelength of from 1.4 μm to 1.9 μm at a pulse energy of 100 mJ or greater and at a repetition rate of from 10 Hz to 100 Hz.