Overview of the NCST´s new optical research facility

Author

Vilcheck, Michael J. ; Reed, Anne E. ; Peltzer, Amey R. ; Davis, Mark A. ; Burris, H.R.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

3

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Abstract

The Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is building a new capability to support space-related optical research activities. The facility will be located at NRL´s Midway Research Center near Quantico, VA. Phase One, completed in 1999, is a multi-purpose transportable telescope (TRTEL) which has already been used for an air-to-ground optical communications demonstration and for passive satellite tracking operations. The second phase, consisting of a Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) system built around a 1-meter re-locatable telescope, is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2001. Technical details describing both systems are provided

Keywords

laser ranging; optical communication; optical instruments; optical testing; research initiatives; satellite tracking; telescopes; test facilities; Midway Research Center; NCST optical research facility; Naval Center for Space Technology; Naval Research Laboratory; air-to-ground optical communications demonstration; multi-purpose transportable telescope; passive satellite tracking operations; re-locatable telescope; satellite laser ranging system; space-related optical research activities; Laboratories; Laser beams; Laser mode locking; Leg; Optical design; Optical filters; Optical transmitters; Pulse amplifiers; Satellites; Telescopes;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE Proceedings.

Conference_Location

Big Sky, MT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-6599-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2001.931379

Filename

931379