Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is a kind of high-precision satellite orbit measurement technology, and the ranging precision can reach sub-centimeter level or even better. It has long been used for satellite orbit calibration and precise orbit determination. The laser retro-reflector array (LRA) is an important part of the satellite laser ranging, which is used for reflecting the laser from the ground laser ranging system. In order to achieve high precision orbit calibration and precise orbit determination of Macau Science Satellite #1 (MSS-1), it will be equipped with a LRA.

In response to the requirements of the MSS-1 orbit measurement application, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, designed a light and high-precision four-prism LRA with a weight of about 285g, an effective reflection area greater than 1.77 square centimeters, and a size of 100mm×100mm×41mm.

The LRA is composed of 4 CCRs with a clear aperture of 28.2mm. The CCRs are uniformly distributed on the side surface of the rectangular pyramid. In order to compensate the influence of the light velocity aberration of the satellite, the dihedral angle offset (DAO) of the CCR is controlled as 1.5 "±0.5". And to ensure the optical reflectivity, the reflecting surfaces of the CCRs are coated with silver. Finally, the LRA has excellent performance and can achieve sub-centimeter-level satellite laser ranging. As a power-free load it is developed and installed for satellite precision orbit measurement and accurate orbit calibration of MSS-1.