Optical system development and performance testing of the NEAR laser rangefinder

Mark T. Boies; Timothy D. Cole; Ashruf S. El-Dinary; R. Alan Reiter

doi:10.1117/12.254034

18 October 1996 Optical system development and performance testing of the NEAR laser rangefinder

Mark T. Boies, Timothy D. Cole, Ashruf S. El-Dinary, R. Alan Reiter

Proceedings Volume 2811, Photonics for Space Environments IV; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254034
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

The near earth asteroid rendezvous (NEAR) laser rangefinder (NLR) is a bistatic system using a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser and a Dall-Kirkhamm telescope for a receiver. The NLR is one of a suite of five scientific data gathering instruments on the NEAR spacecraft. The NEAR mission is the first of NASA's Discovery Series of spacecraft. The NLR transmitter emits a 15.6 mJ, 15 ns pulse at 1064 nm. The receiver is capable of reliably detecting return signals from the asteroid as low as 1 fJ per pulse, which corresponds to an average power of 50 nW (20 ns pulse). The development and alignment approach of the bistatic system are discussed. The performance test results of the receiver, transmitter, and integrated rangefinder system are presented. Particular attention is given to the system alignment tests and an open air range verification test.

Citation Download Citation

Mark T. Boies, Timothy D. Cole, Ashruf S. El-Dinary, and R. Alan Reiter "Optical system development and performance testing of the NEAR laser rangefinder", Proc. SPIE 2811, Photonics for Space Environments IV, (18 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254034

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