STUDIES FOR A GEODETIC LASER SYSTEM.
Abstract
This report contains a brief summary of photoelectric (range) detection, photographic (direction) detection, and design studies made for a geodetic laser system. It appears feasible to measure the displacement between a ground-based (ruby) laser system and a satellite equipped with retrodirective reflector arrays (such as those on the Explorer and Geos satellites) to an accuracy of 2 arc-seconds in direction and less than 10 meters in range at slant ranges of over 2000 km, using essentially state-of-the-art equipment described herein and in the references. The probability of detection is expected to be greater than 90% without optical tracking, if the direction is known in advance to within approximately 2 arc-minutes and the range to within approximately 1 km. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0652235
Entities
People
- Sumner Ackerman