A review of the extensive program of the pioneering research and development of high-power lasers and laser radar undertaken in the USSR during the years 1964 to 1978 under the scientific supervision of N.G. Basov is presented. In the course of this program, many high-energy lasers with unique properties were created, new big research and design teams were formed, and the laser production and testing facilities were extended and developed. The program was fulfilled at many leading research institutions and design bureaus of the USSR Academy of Sciences and defense industry.
Some episodes are reviewed of the early development of laser radar in Ukraine and Russia being the parts of the former
Soviet Union, including laser radars for Navy applications, anti-missile defense experiments, and medical applications.
Some details are pointed out on spatial suppression of the backscattered light, on laser radar for fire control systems, and
long-range multi-channel laser radar. Double-circuit tracking is discussed for high-precision designator. High-power
multi-channel ruby laser transmitter with high pulse repetition rate and matrix multi-channel photodetector were tested at
Sary-Shagan in the mode of missile and satellite ranging and tracking. Specular target identification is analyzed which
uses polarization parameters. Studies of speckle propagation in the atmosphere resulted in their dual application for
speckle suppression and for selection of the fluctuating retroreflecting targets. An aberrometer - instrument for wave
front measurements using the principles of laser radar is described with its application in the field of ophthalmology.
KEYWORDS: Cameras, Rockets, Space operations, Failure analysis, Motion measurement, High speed photography, Photography, Space reconnaissance, Chemical analysis, Motion analysis
In August of 1989, the Galileo spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter and probe, was mounted to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) rocket stage being readied for flight aboard NASA's Space Shuttle, 'STS-34,' 'Atlantis.' During routine age testing of an IUS igniter fire line circuit, a 'b-nut' failure occurred. On board the Galileo/IUS first stage rocket motor was a b-nut from this failed lot. There was concern that the mission could be jeopardized if the b-nut failed because of the close proximity of the IUS second stage rocket motor nozzle. A fix had to be made to insure mission success. Chemical Systems Division was called upon to provide high- speed motion picture photography at 3000 frames per second to analyze the dynamics of a b-nut failure, and verify that the fix would prevent damage to the second stage nozzle, should a b-nut failure occur. This report will show how displacement and velocity measurements can be made from 16 mm motion picture film.
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