A High-Radiance Laser System For Lunar Ranging

C. G. Lehr; M. R. Pearlman; M. R. Wolf; J. A. Monjes; W. F. Hagen

doi:10.1117/12.953472

18 June 1971 A High-Radiance Laser System For Lunar Ranging

C. G. Lehr, M. R. Pearlman, M. R. Wolf, J. A. Monjes, W. F. Hagen

Proceedings Volume 0023, Optical Tracking Systems; (1971) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.953472
Event: Optical Tracking Systems, 1971, El Paso, United States

Abstract

A transportable laser system for lunar ranging is described. It can be used at any astronomical observatory where a 1.5-m telescope is available. Since this telescope is used for the returned signal only, its use for other purposes is not affected significantly. The transportable system uses a high-energy, single-mode, neodymium-glass laser whose frequency-doubled wavelength is 530 nm. Because the laser's divergence is very low, an atmospherically limited beam-width can be achieved with optics only 0.2 m in diameter. An initial phase of the program, con-cerned with ranging to near-earth satellites, will be described. For this application, a 5-cm coude system is used to point the laser beam. There is also a separate 12-cm receiving telescope.

Citation Download Citation

C. G. Lehr, M. R. Pearlman, M. R. Wolf, J. A. Monjes, and W. F. Hagen "A High-Radiance Laser System For Lunar Ranging", Proc. SPIE 0023, Optical Tracking Systems, (18 June 1971); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.953472

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