Design and analysis of the Macau Science Satellite-1’s laser retro-reflector array

The origin and spatial−temporal variation of the Earth’s magnetic field (EMF) is one of the important scientific problems that has long been unsolved. The Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1) under construction is China’s first high-precision EMF measurement satellite. To satisfy the highly precise requirements of the MSS-1 orbit measurement, a light, high-precision, four-prism laser retro-reflector array was designed. It weighs approximately 285 g, its effective reflection area is greater than 1.77 cm², and its size is 100 × 100 × 41 mm. The laser retro-reflector array has excellent performance, and it can achieve a ranging precision at the subcentimeter level for satellite laser ranging. It will be developed and installed on the MSS-1 as a power-free load for high-precision orbit measurement and accurate orbit calibration. The MSS-1 is planned to be brought into the International Laser Ranging Service observations. More than 31 satellite laser ranging stations in the International Laser Ranging Service around the world will be able to measure the MSS-1 with long arcs, which will support the scientific mission of high-precision EMF exploration.