Laurent Hennegrave, ArianeGroup; Gaetan Eyheramono, ArianeGroup; Marine Pyanet, ArianeGroup; Sebastien Vourc’h, ArianeGroup; Gilles Fournier, ArianeGroup
Keywords: SSA, SST, Laser ranging, optical
Abstract:
With the continuous growth of space applications, the number of objects in orbit is increasing dramatically. Space Situational Awareness has become a necessity to insure safe operation of space assets.
The number of conjunction data messages that need to be screened is expected to increase by a factor of 3 by 2030 and thus requiring more data and more accuracy to concentrate the ressources on high interest events to mitigate associated risks.
Whereas Satellite Laser Ranging is used for a lot of applications like validation of GNSS constellation or scientific earth monitoring satellites orbits, metrology and geodesy; it has the potential to provide high accuracy for CDM refinement at an affordable cost.
Recent improvement in laser technologies will allow the development of “eye safe” laser ranging station with the ability to reach meter level accuracy. The objective of this station is to be in particular compliant with air traffic in order to not require huge NOTAM and impact the ATM operations. This type of design will allow to deploy more easily this technology accross the world in order to improve the accuracy of orbital parameters of space objects and contribute to the reduction of collision warning false alarms.
Using its experience and skills from the GEOTracker Network development, ArianeGroup has designed an eye safe satellite ranging station with the ability to perform ranging measurements with uncooperative target in LEO orbit day and night.
Results from field tests will be presented in this paper including accuracy evaluation vs cooperative targets.
This presentation will describes the concept and architecture of the station under development, the main challenges we had to address, the way-forward for laser station network deployment, the connection to the GEOTracker system and associated data services delivery.
Date of Conference: September 27-20, 2022
Track: Optical Systems & Instrumentation