Source: ITBEAR
Exciting news has come from the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a team of top scientists has achieved a major breakthrough in China's deep-space exploration domain – successfully detecting the laser echo signal from the DRO-A satellite located approximately 350,000 kilometers away from Earth for the first time. This accomplishment marks an important step forward for China in satellite laser ranging technology, effectively equipping humanity with a precise "measuring ruler" in the vast universe.
It is reported that this successful detection mission was collaboratively completed by the Center for Space Applications and Technology, the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory, and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. At around midnight Beijing time on April 23rd, the research team used the newly upgraded near-infrared lunar laser ranging system of the 1.2-meter telescope at the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory to send a laser beam toward the distant DRO-A satellite and successfully received the signal reflected back from the single corner cube retroreflector on the satellite. This process was akin to lighting up a beam of light in the pitch-black expanse of space and calculating the precise distance between the satellite and the ground station by accurately measuring the round-trip time of the light.
Researcher Li Yuqiang from the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory stated that this trial's success not only serves as a strong validation of the maturity of China's deep-space laser ranging technology but also signifies our capability to precisely measure distances to space targets such as satellites, space debris, and lunar reflectors. This undoubtedly represents a significant milestone for future deep-space exploration missions conducted by China.
Through meticulous preparation and relentless efforts by the scientific team, the near-infrared lunar laser ranging system of the 1.2-meter telescope at the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory was successfully upgraded and played a crucial role in this mission. This upgrade not only enhanced measurement precision and stability but also provided robust technical support for research in China's deep-space exploration field.
The successful detection of the laser echo signal from the DRO-A satellite not only demonstrates China's strength in deep-space exploration but also provides valuable experience and data support for future space exploration and research. With continuous technological advancements and the unwavering efforts of the scientific team, it is believed that China will achieve more remarkable accomplishments in the field of deep-space exploration.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497580098996945460/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's views, and you are welcome to express your stance by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.