Satellite geodesy using laser range measurements only

Abstract

We have investigated the potential accuracy with which the distances between 12 observing stations that are spread fairly uniformly over the earth can be determined by using laser range measurements to a high-altitude satellite equipped with optical retro-reflectors. For each of 30 satellite positions, it was assumed that range measurements were made at about the same time from the 4 closest stations. For ideal distribution of the stations, the expected uncertainty in the distance between any 2 stations was found to be less than 45 cm, with little dependence on satellite altitude over the range of 20,000–110,000 km. With 12 stations chosen from the Pageos Worldwide Geometric Satellite Network, the expected accuracy for a satellite altitude of 110,000 km is 60 cm or better between any two stations.