千赫兹重复频率激光测距具有目标捕获快、回波数多、测距精度高、标准点数据密度高等优点,已成为国际激光测距技术的发展趋势.针对千赫兹激光测距系统,中国科学院上海天文台采用皮秒脉宽千赫兹频率激光器和高精度事件计时器,研制了纳秒级控制精度的事件模式距离门控及后向散射避免电路,设计开发高实时性控制软件和数据预处理软件,建立了高精度千赫兹重复频率卫星激光测距系统,实现了从低轨到中高轨卫星千赫兹重复频率常规观测和低轨道卫星白天测距,测距精度7~12mm,并在国际上首先实现了同步轨道卫星千赫兹重复频率激光测距.与低重复频率激光测距相比,激光测距有效回波数和标准点数据密度有数量级增加,测距精度也有了一定的提高.
kHz repetition Satellite Laser Ranging (kHz SLR) with the advantages of fast target acquisition, large amount of returns, high measuring accuracy and high normal point data density, has become the trend of international laser ranging technology. For kHz Satellite Laser Ranging system, using kHz repetition laser with picosecond's pulse-width and high-precision Event Timer, designing nanosecond accuracy of Range Gate Generator with event mode and back-scattering avoiding circuit, developing real-time control software and data pre-processing software, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (CAS) has established the kHz repetition laser ranging system with the ability to track routinely the LEO/HEO satellites at nighttime and daylight laser ranging for LEO satellites at the precision of 7-12 mm and become the first station to range to GEO satellite with kHz repetition rate laser. By comparing with low repetition laser ranging, the returns and data density per normal points are greatly increased. The ranging precision is also improved obviously.