Many in the space weather community consider our understanding of the buoyancy of the thermosphere and its effects on the orbits of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to be insufficient during short time frames. Disclosed herein is an approach for making on-demand thermosphere buoyancy measurements using a deployable low mass retroreflector with CubeSat-like dimensions. A CubeSat storing many retroreflectors can dispense one or more of these passive satellites according to a predetermined schedule or on-command, in response to an observed space weather phenomenon like a coronal mass ejection. With measurements of the orbit decay from these passive satellites, a better understanding of the relationship between space weather and orbital decay can be established with relatively low cost.

Many in the space weather community consider our understanding of the buoyancy of the thermosphere and its effects on the orbits of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to be insufficient during short time frames. Disclosed herein is an approach for making on-demand thermosphere buoyancy measurements using a deployable low mass retroreflector with CubeSat-like dimensions. A CubeSat storing many retroreflectors can dispense one or more of these passive satellites according to a predetermined schedule or on-command, in response to an observed space weather phenomenon like a coronal mass ejection. With measurements of the orbit decay from these passive satellites, a better understanding of the relationship between space weather and orbital decay can be established with relatively low cost.

A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

A retroreflector system including an outer body panel coupled to a vehicle, wherein the outer body panel is configured to allow a radar signal originating from an external radar device to pass through the outer body panel. The retroreflector system also includes a plurality of retroreflectors embedded in the vehicle, where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to reflect the signal to the external signal source as a reflected signal, and where the plurality of retroreflectors is configured to have a peak reflectivity for a radar wavelength range or a light detection and ranging (lidar) wavelength range.

A retroreflective composite bead for highway marking having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded. The beads comprise a larger bead with a coating of smaller particles heat bonded to its surface.

A retroreflective composite bead for highway marking having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded. The beads comprise a larger bead with a coating of smaller particles heat bonded to its surface.

A polymer compatible retroreflective bead. The bead can be used in typical retroreflective uses such as paints tapes and films in highway marking and signs having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded.

A polymer compatible retroreflective bead. The bead can be used in typical retroreflective uses such as paints tapes and films in highway marking and signs having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded.