An Algorithm for Reliable Normal Point Calculation of Noisy LLR Measurements

authored by: Franz Meyer, Florian Seitz, Jürgen Müller
Abstract: Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) data can be used to determine parameters of the Earth-Moon system (e.g. lunar gravity, tidal parameters) and relativistic effects in the solar system. Moreover, LLR contributes to the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and provides a set of Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) like UT0 or nutation coefficients. A prerequisite for a good analysis is the availability of sufficient observations with high accuracy from globally well distributed sites on the Earth to the reflectors on the Moon. However, the measurement of the Earth-Moon distance is difficult and much more challenging for the laser system than satellite laser ranging (SLR). The signal to noise ratio of the received signal is low because a lot of power is lost on the round trip from the Earth to the Moon. Therefore special observation strategies and processing algorithms are required. To improve the visibility of the real lunar returns in the noise, a semi-pulse pattern is incorporated in the analysis of the raw data by applying a correlation procedure. Based upon these results and after subtracting the noise, the final normal point is computed. Here, all relevant processing steps are explained, where the big advantage of the new processing method will be shown by examples.
External Organisation(s): Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI-TUM)
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Type: Conference contribution
Pages: 154-159
No. of pages: 6
Publication date: 23.01.2002
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Condensed Matter Physics, Computer Science Applications, Applied Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1117/12.453993 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@inproceedings{047ed861a612444cb157fe59388af708,
title = "An Algorithm for Reliable Normal Point Calculation of Noisy LLR Measurements",
abstract = "Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) data can be used to determine parameters of the Earth-Moon system (e.g. lunar gravity, tidal parameters) and relativistic effects in the solar system. Moreover, LLR contributes to the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and provides a set of Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) like UT0 or nutation coefficients. A prerequisite for a good analysis is the availability of sufficient observations with high accuracy from globally well distributed sites on the Earth to the reflectors on the Moon. However, the measurement of the Earth-Moon distance is difficult and much more challenging for the laser system than satellite laser ranging (SLR). The signal to noise ratio of the received signal is low because a lot of power is lost on the round trip from the Earth to the Moon. Therefore special observation strategies and processing algorithms are required. To improve the visibility of the real lunar returns in the noise, a semi-pulse pattern is incorporated in the analysis of the raw data by applying a correlation procedure. Based upon these results and after subtracting the noise, the final normal point is computed. Here, all relevant processing steps are explained, where the big advantage of the new processing method will be shown by examples.",
keywords = "Correlation Procedure, Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), Normal Point Calculation",
author = "Franz Meyer and Florian Seitz and J{\"u}rgen M{\"u}ller",
year = "2002",
month = jan,
day = "23",
doi = "10.1117/12.453993",
language = "English",
isbn = "0-8194-4271-2",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
pages = "154--159",
booktitle = "Laser Radar: Ranging and Atmospheric Lidar Techniques III",
address = "United States",
note = "Laser Radar: Ranging and Atmospheric Lidar Techniques III ; Conference date: 17-09-2001 Through 18-09-2001",
}