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Ranging performance of satellite laser altimetersTopographic mapping of the earth, moon and planets can be accomplished with high resolution and accuracy using satellite laser altimeters. These systems employ nanosecond laser pulses and microradian beam divergences to achieve submeter vertical range resolution from orbital altitudes of several hundred kilometers. Here, we develop detailed expressions for the range and pulse width measurement accuracies and use the results to evaluate the ranging performances of several satellite laser altimeters currently under development by NASA for launch during the next decade. Our analysis includes the effects of the target surface characteristics, spacecraft pointing jitter and waveform digitizer characteristics. The results show that ranging accuracy is critically dependent on the pointing accuracy and stability of the altimeter especially over high relief terrain where surface slopes are large. At typical orbital altitudes of several hundred kilometers, single-shot accuracies of a few centimeters can be achieved only when the pointing jitter is on the order of 10 mu rad or less.
Document ID
19920006160
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Gardner, Chester S. (Illinois Univ. at Urbana-Champaign Savoy, IL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Report/Patent Number
UILU-ENG-92-2547
NASA-CR-189454
NAS 1.26:189454
EOSL-92-001
Accession Number
92N15378
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-5049
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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