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Satellite Laser Ranging

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Sciences of Geodesy - I

Abstract

Determining the range to a satellite in orbit around the earth utilising the technique of satellite laser ranging (SLR) was pioneered in the early 1960s. The first successful ranging experiment was reported in the 3 December 1964 issue of Flight International (Smith 1964). Dr. Henry H. Plotkin of Goddard Space Flight Centre led a NASA team to track the Beacon-B (also known as Explorer-22) satellite for ten successful sessions during the period 11 October to 13 November 1964. A team from General Electric Co. (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) also participated from Phoenix, Arizona. Using a telescope mounted with a ruby laser, expected range accuracy was about 3 m. Current accuracy is at the level of 1–2 cm.

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Acknowledgments

The data used in this work were acquired as part of NASA’s Earth Science Data Systems and archived and distributed by the Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS). Acknowledgement is made of the use of NASA MOBLAS system description documentation for Figs. 9.9, 9.10 and 9.12.

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  1. Space Geodesy Programme, Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, PO Box 443, Krugersdorp, 1740, South Africa

    Ludwig Combrinck

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  1. Ludwig Combrinck
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Correspondence to Ludwig Combrinck .

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  1. Abt. 1 Geodäsie und Fernerkundung, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg A 17, Potsdam, 14473, Brandenburg, Germany

    Guochang Xu

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Combrinck, L. (2010). Satellite Laser Ranging. In: Xu, G. (eds) Sciences of Geodesy - I. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11741-1_9

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