Satellite Simulator for Demonstration of Space Laser Tracking

Lasers are widely used in satellite communication range measurement and other space missions. In order to study tracking control of space laser before satellite is launched, it is necessary to build a satellite simulator on the ground. This paper presents a satellite simulator which is composed of a satellite platform and an optical platform. In this paper, a mathematical model is established for space laser tracking. Then, a satellite simulator is designed and built based on the model. Finally, a laser tracking experiment is carried out to validate the simulator’s performance. Experimental result show that the precision of laser tracking is better than 0.2 mrad. The proposed simulator has satisfied the requirements of most laser on-orbit applications, which demonstrates its potential for the simulation of actual space missions.