Optimetric Measurements Over Coherent Free-Space Optical Communication

High-precision ranging (optimetric) instruments are highly desired for both space navigation and communications as well as gravitational-based science missions. Traditionally, these measurements are made with instruments solely dedicated to ranging (i.e. Doppler shift of a microwave carrier providing spacecraft-Earth relative velocity along line of sight); however, this approach is limited by clock stability, frequency, and plasma-induced group delay variations, resulting in lower range and range rate accuracies.