噪声是影响星载激光测高仪测距误差的重要因素。根据星载激光测高仪接收脉冲回波和噪声的分布特点，推导出接收脉冲回波信号时间重心的方差的理论表达形式，建立了噪声对激光测距误差的影响模型。基于激光测距误差最小化的原则，提出了一种星载激光测高仪低通滤波器的优化设计方法。以Geosicence Laser Altimeter System(GLAS)激光测高仪基本测量参数为输入条件，仿真分析了激光测距误差和低通滤波器均方根脉宽的优化结果的分布规律。对于倾斜度为0°~40°且粗糙度为0~15 m范围内的目标而言，噪声所导致的激光测距误差范围为0.28~32.49 cm，相应地，低通滤波器均方根脉宽优化值的范围为1.4~57.4 ns。针对倾斜度在1°范围内的目标，解算得到GLAS星载激光测高仪低通滤波器均方根脉宽为2.2 ns，这与其实际公布的2 ns很接近。同时，低通滤波器的优化结果所对应的激光测距误差发生大幅减小，其最大值减小至10.93 cm，减小幅度接近3倍。结果表明，噪声是影响星载激光测高仪测距误差的重要因素，合理设计低通滤波器的参数可以消除其部分影响，这对于星载激光测高仪的硬件设计和性能评估具有一定实际应用价值。

Noise is an important factor of affecting range error for satellite laser altimeter with recording waveform. According to the distribution characteristic of received pulse signal and noise, the theoretical expression form about variance of time-centroid for received pulse signal was deduced. Thereby, the impact model of noise on range error was built-up. Base on the principle of minimizing range error, an optimization design method for low-pass filter was put forward. In terms of basic measurement parameters for Geoscience Laser Altimeter System(GLAS), the distribution regularities of range error and RMS pulse width for low-pass filter were simulated. As for linear target of geometrical parameters within 40° slope angle and 15 m roughness, the extent of range error is 0.28-32.49 cm. Correspondingly, the scope of RMS pulse width for low-pass filter is 1.4-57.4 ns. Aimed at targets with scope of 1° slope angle, the computed value of low-pass filter for GLAS is 2.2 ns, which is close approximate to 2 ns as published practically value. Meanwhile, on basis of optimizational results for low-pass filter, the range errors decrease significantly. The maximum of range error is decreased to 10.93 cm and corresponding reduction level gets 3 times. All the results show that impact model of noise on range error and optimization design method for low-pass filter is correct. They provide practical application values for hardware design and performance assessment of satellite laser altimeter.