Hope-2 Pina Micro-Satellite Laser Reflector Design and Laser Ranging Analysis

To achieve precise calibration of ground tracking and control equipment for the Hope-2 satellite and to meet the application requirements of high-precision orbit determination, this paper designs a lightweight laser retroreflector.Fifteen small-aperture laser retroreflectors, each utilizing a quartz corner cube prism with a 10 mm clear aperture, were distributively mounted on various side and edge faces of the satellite.

These retroreflectors subsequently underwent systematic optical and environmental performance tests.Following its launch and entry into the designated orbit, the satellite conducted laser ranging tracking experiments. The results demonstrated the reflector's outstanding performance in low-orbit satellite missions: peak echoes reached 140 per second, with a ranging accuracy of 0.7 centimetres. This signifies that such miniature laser reflectors will play a vital role in achieving precise orbit determination for Pina microsatellites