Development of the Automatic Laser Tracker

Brian P. Fitzgerald

Manually operated tracking cameras are inadequate for photographic coverage of high-speed missile tests due to the slow reaction time of the operator. An Automatic Laser Tracker was developed for the Missile Development Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base to provide accurate close-up photography of these tests. The electrooptical tracking system can follow a rocket sled traveling at Mach 6 at a closest approach of 1000 ft. The system is described and the results of tracking tests are presented.

Print ISSN
Published
1969-01
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J06970