Development of return signal simulator for Chinese satellite altimeter test and calibration

The prelaunch performance assessment and function modes assurance of Chinese first satellite altimeter, developed by the Center for Space Science and Applied Research, must be subjected to a rigorous test and calibration program. As an important part of this program, an ocean Return Signal Simulator (RSS) is developed. This paper describes the principles of the RSS with its means of testing and calibrating the satellite altimeter. By employing a chirp regeneration technique, a full de-ramp technique, an ocean return spectrum digitally synthesizing technique and a high speed DSP technique, a full signal RSS is successfully developed for the Chinese satellite altimeter test and calibration, full range of time delay and full sea state simulation is achieved. Time delay precision is 0.2 ns, significant wave height simulation precision is 0.5 m and backscattered coefficient precision is 1 dB. By using the RSS, the full system testing and calibrating experiment to the Chinese satellite altimeter are implemented, and the dynamic performance of the altimeter is validated by the obtained results.