Characteristics of onboard laser ranging systems and corner reflectors to increase the range up to 2 000 km for the rendezvous and docking of space vehicles

The paper defines characteristics of the onboard laser ranging systems (LRS) and corner reflectors that provide a range of measurements from 1 000 to 2 000 km for the rendezvous and docking of space vehicles beyond the low Earth orbit. Compared are characteristics of the onboard LRS, radiolocation systems for rendezvous and docking, as well as terminals of laser communication of space vehicles. The impact of diffraction characteristics of the corner reflectors and aberration of rate on the LRS measurement was investigated. Mathematical expressions based on the geometrical optics approximation used to perform calculations in the paper are presented. LRS parameters necessary to measure the subject distances are substantiated. Mathematical modeling of the LRS measurement ranges using different types of corner reflectors was performed. The angular divergence of LRS probing laser beams providing required measurement ranges was determined. The mathematical modeling of LRS operation using «MITRA» program was conducted. A problem of power consumption of laser sources for onboard LRS was addressed.