LACE
The Low-power Atmospheric Compensation Experiment was part of a dual payload with RME carrying laser defense experiments. LACE was built by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to act as a target for ground lasers to investigate atmospheric distortion and compensation methods. The low-power lasers were beamed from the Air Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS) and received by on-board IR and phased detectors. A laser locked onto a reflector mounted on a 46 meter boom to acquire the satellite. The sensor array returned data on the laser coverage, allowing laser's adaptive optics to be adjusted, compensating for atmospheric distortion. The payload included ABE, the Army Background Experiment, an instrument which monitored background levels of neutron radiation in order to be able to discriminate between warheads and decoys. LACE also carried the Ultraviolet Plume Intrument (UPI) to track rocket plumes. Spacecraft
Payload
Launch Facts
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