TOPEX/Poseidon
RetroReflector Array (RRA) Characteristics:
Courtesy of JPL
The retroreflector array was an annulus ring comprised of 192 corner cubes mounted in two concentric rings around the altimeter antenna. The satellite laser range corrections required for the array were elevation and tracking system dependent, which potentially compromised the mission goals. However, analysts with NASA, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Honeywell (formerly AlliedSignal), working in close coordination, successfully characterized the range correction equations to the few millimeter accuracy level, exceeding mission requirements.
References:
- Varghese, T., Analysis of TOPEX Laser Retroreflector Array Characteristics, in Proc. 8th Intern. Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A., May 18-22, 1993, NASA Conference Publ. 3214, p. 6-47, 1993.
- Nerem, R.S., Putney, B.H., Marshall, J.A., et al., Expected orbit determination performance for the TOPEX/Poseidon mission, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 31(2), 1993.
- Schwartz, J.A., Laser ranging error budget for the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite, Applied Optics, 29(25), pp. 3590-3596, 1990.
- Schwartz, J.A., Pulse spreading and range correction analysis for satellite laser ranging, Applied Optics, 29(25), pp. 3597-3602, 1990.
Other TOPEX Laser Retroreflector Array Information:
- JPL Document D-1810, "TOPEX/Poseidon Laser Retroreflector Array Interface Specification", March 15, 1991.
- Memorandum by Byron Tapley, Dec17-1991, Concern about TOPEX LRA
- Memorandum by Peter Minott, May 7th-1992, Status of TOPEX LRA Analysis
- Memorandum by Andrew Marshall, July16-1992, TOPEX LRA Working Group Meeting Minutes
- Presentation by Thomas Varghese et al., July16-1992, TOPEX LRA Range Correction Results
- Memorandum by John Degnan, Aug11-1992, TOPEX LRA Working Group Meeting Minutes
- Memorandum by David Arnold, Sept10-1992, TOPEX LRA Analysis Status Report
- Memorandum by John Degnan, Oct27-1992, TOPEX LRA Working Group Meeting Minutes
- JPL Interoffice Memorandum 314.5-1665 by Joseph Guinn, Oct27-1992, Antenna Phase Center Offsets for TOPEX
- Memorandum by David A. Arnold, Nov06-1992, TOPEX LRA Analysis
- Memorandum by David A. Arnold, Dec03, 1992, TOPEX LRA Analysis
Empirical TOPEX LRA Correction developed by DGFI/TUM (2022)
- Zeitlhöfler J., Bloßfeld M., Rudenko S., et al. (2023), "Station-dependent satellite laser ranging measurement corrections for TOPEX/Poseidon", Adv. Space Res., 71(1), 975-996, DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.09.002.
Summary : As known in the SLR community, the TOPEX/Poseidon spacecraft was equipped with an LRA with a diameter of more than 160 cm which causes large phase centre variations. We empirically developed a continuous and analytical SLR measurement correction function to resolve these variations and effects related to the spacecraft and ground-based tracking systems. The correction function uses system-dependent parameters which are available in our recent article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2022.09.002. Please cite the article when using these TOPEX/Poseidon SLR measurement corrections.
