Because of the familiar R2 dependence of signal strength on range and overcoming the prohibitively large R4 losses of
conventional passive satellite laser ranging(SLR), the operational distance of echo-transponder satellite laser ranging is
much farther. Echo-transponder SLR can be used for satellite ranging at great distance, and even for deep-space probe
ranging. Echo-transponder SLR uses a laser transponder instead of the retro-reflector on the satellite, and implements
ranging by means of echoing the ranging signal from the master station. However, ranging accuracy of echo-transponder
SLR is reduced, because the jitter of additional delay-time occurs in the process of the transponder’s response. The
principle of laser echo-transponder was introduced, the causes of delay-time and its jitter were analyzed, and the control
technique of delay-time jitter in responsion was studied. An experimental platform of the laser echo-transponder was
constructed, in order to validate the availability of the control technique of delay-time jitter, and to detect control
accuracy of the delay-time jitter. As the experimental result indicated, the delay-time jitter of the laser echo-transponder
could be controlled effectively within 1 ns, thereby it was determined that the corresponding ranging error was less than
15 cm, if the laser transmitter was suitably selected, and the techniques about precise temperature control, automatic
power control, precise Q-switched, and accurate detection of the pulse moment were reasonably put to use in the system
design of the laser echo-transponder. Meanwhile the feasibility of echo-transponder SLR was validated.
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