Dale, The paper states the the lasers used were at 532nm (and 1064nm via a doubler), and that the average pulse energy levels were 100mJ/100ps pulse width or 300mJ/250ps pulse width. Also note that the paper was from 1997, and that the one satellite mentioned by name was TOPEX/Poseidon. They do make reference to satellites in a particular orbit, but not by name. It makes a fascinating read, and if you've got a wicked-accurate clock, a photomultiplier tube, a 10-12" telescope, and a very low pulse width laser, you could do ~ 1cm accuracy SLR (satellite laser ranging). -- David Tiller Lead Consultant/Architect | CapTech Ventures -----Original Message----- From: seesat-l-bounces+dtiller=captechventures.com@satobs.org on behalf of Dale Ireland Sent: Fri 8/27/2010 1:24 PM To: 'Allen Thomson'; 'SeeSat' Subject: RE: Laser retroreflectors on recent NOSS? I wonder how powerful of a green laser would be needed to see a reflection? I have a 500mw green laser. Do you know the power and wavelength of the Navy ranging lasers? Dale > -----Original Message----- > From: seesat-l-bounces+direland=drdale.com@satobs.org > [mailto:seesat-l-bounces+direland=drdale.com@satobs.org] On > Behalf Of Allen Thomson > Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 9:31 AM > To: SeeSat > Subject: Laser retroreflectors on recent NOSS? > > > > I just came across a paper(*) that, viewed at the right > angle, suggests that at least some of the more recent NOSS > satellites carry laser retroreflectors (corner cubes). These > may be used for precision orbit determination, with one laser > being on the grounds of the Naval Research Laboratory's > Midway Research Center at 38.49921 N, 77.37109 W. > > I'm not sure if the retroreflectors, even if present, would > produce any visible effect under ordinary conditions, but it > might be something to look for. > > > (*) http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA334920&Locat > > _______________________________________________ > Seesat-l mailing list > http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l > _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/private/seesat-l/attachments/20100827/9b94bdeb/attachment.html _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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