Modernized spherical glass satellite “BLITZ-M”
Glavkosmos
Passive glass retroreflector spherical satellite used to calibrate quantum-optical ground stations.
Technical specifications
- Purpose
- Calibration of quantum-optical ground stations
- Year of release
- 2013
- Construction
- Glass retroreflector sphere consisting of two hemispherical menisci and a glass ball
About
The Modernized spherical glass satellite “BLITZ-M”, released by Glavkosmos in 2013, is a passive retroreflector satellite built from glass. Its purpose is providing calibration of quantum-optical ground stations used for satellite laser ranging. The satellite is constructed as a glass ball combined with two hemispherical menisci, forming a spherical retroreflector body with no active electronics on board. It is used as a reference target in orbit to characterize and calibrate laser-ranging and quantum-optical tracking infrastructure on the ground, an established Russian approach to geodesy and precision-orbit-determination satellites.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
