Design of tracking mount and controller for mobile satellite laser ranging system

• Published in: Advances in space research Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 177 - 184
• Main Authors: Park, Cheol Hoon, Son, Young Su, Kim, Byung In, Ham, Sang Young, Lee, Sung Whee, Lim, Hyung Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Repeatability; Satellite laser ranging; Tracking accuracy; Tracking controller; Tracking mount; Asia; Korea; Korea, Rep; Tracking accuracy; Repeatability; Tracking controller; Satellite laser ranging; Tracking mount; HEOS satellites; Space remote sensing; Satellite observation; Trajectories; Eigenfrequency; Space research; Drifting float; Laser interferometer; Three dimensional model; Frequency analysis; Earth orbit; Measuring network
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2011.09.009

In this study, we have proposed and implemented a design for the tracking mount and controller of the ARGO-M (Accurate Ranging system for Geodetic Observation – Mobile) which is a mobile satellite laser ranging (SLR) system developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM). The tracking mount comprises a few core components such as bearings, driving motors and encoders. These components were selected as per the technical specifications for the tracking mount of the ARGO-M. A three-dimensional model of the tracking mount was designed. The frequency analysis of the model predicted that the first natural frequency of the designed tracking mount was high enough. The tracking controller is simulated using MATLAB/xPC Target to achieve the required pointing and tracking accuracy. In order to evaluate the system repeatability and tracking accuracy of the tracking mount, a prototype of the ARGO-M was fabricated, and repeatability tests were carried out using a laser interferometer. Tracking tests were conducted using the trajectories of low earth orbit (LEO) and high earth orbit (HEO) satellites. Based on the test results, it was confirmed that the prototype of the tracking mount and controller of the ARGO-M could achieve the required repeatability along with a tracking accuracy of less than 1 arcsec.