Satellite laser ranging data was used to determine for precision orbit determination. The satellite was tracked by the ILRS network from 21 December 2001 through 20 November 2003.

Reflector Mission Support Request Form (20 November 2001):

Name: Reflector
Host: ROSAVIACOSMOS, Science Research Institute for Precision Instrument Engineering (IPIE)

Primary Technical Contact: Prof. Victor Shargorodsky
Alternate Technical Contact: Dr. Natalia Parkhomenko
Technical Mailing Address: IPIE, Aviamotornaya st. 53 125183, Moscow, Russia
Technical Fax: +7 095 273 4535
Technical email: natali@ricimi.msk.su, 8423.g23@g23.relcom.ru

Primary Science Contact: Prof. Victor Shargorodsky
Alternate Science Contact: Prof. Vladimir Vasiliev
Science Mailing Address: IPIE, Aviamotornaya st. 53 125183, Moscow, Russia
Science Fax: +7 095 273 4535
Science email: natali@ricimi.msk.su, lavaser@orc.ru

Mission objectives: The Reflector microsatellite is a passive reflective spatial reference test object consisting of separate prism retroreflectors placed in reference points (nodes). It will be used for retroreflection of laser radiation coming from a ground-based laser radar to analyze and investigate the return signal structure for determination of spatial (angular) resolution, testing, and identification of spacecraft which may be defined as space debris. The Reflector microsatellite will be launched as a piggyback load on board of the METEOR-3M No.1 satellite, and will be separated from the host satellite by a special separation system.

Mission role: The SLR will be used for Orbit Determination (OD)

Launch date: December 10 or 11, 2001
Mission duration: 9 months
Altitude: 1018.6
Inclination: 99.64 deg.
Eccentricity: 0.0008
Tracking sched: Start of tracking after separation of Reflector from METEOR-3M(1), than tracking to don’t lose
Spatial cov: Global if possible
Temporal cov: Normal
Data accuracy: Normal network precision and accuracy
Coordinator: IPIE
Priority: low
Data source: MCC
POD source: no
Analysis Center: MCC
Npt time span: 15-20 sec.
Tracking requests: global
Delivery time: usual

Array info: The Reflector microsatellite is a system of 32 retroreflectors in holders placed in defined node points of a spatial test object (see picture). Depending on the microsatellite’s long vertical axis orientation (the extendable beam may be pointed towards the zenith or nadir), only one of the 16-retroreflector groups is actually working at any moment. The cube corner prisms used as the microsatellite’s retroreflectors are made of fused silica (quartz) and have aluminum-coated reflecting surfaces. Technical contact for array info: Dr. Natalia Parkhomenko
Array contact number: natali@ricimi.msk.su

Comments: Because of spatial diversity of several groups of retroreflectors, there will be several simultaneous tracks with range difference between them up to 1,365 meter.