Thomas Schildknecht, Astronomisches Institut Universität Bern; Peter Pessev, University of Bern, Astronomical Institute; Julian Rodriguez, Astronomisches Institut Universität Bern; Palash Patole, Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern; Alessandro Vananti, Astronomische Institut Universitär Bern; Jan Siminski, ESA/ESOC Space Debris Office; Tim Flohrer, ESA Space Debris Office
Keywords: optical surveys, space debris, sub-catalogue debris population, space debris in high-altitude orbits
Abstract:
The Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB) performs optical surveys for sub-catalogue space debris in high-altitude orbits since more than two decades. The bulk of the data is acquired on behalf of ESA with the ESA 1-meter telescope at the OGS in Tenerife, Spain. Additional surveys are performed with the 0.8-meter Zimmerwald Multiple Applications Telescope ZimMAIN at AIUB’s Zimmerwald Observatory in Switzerland.
The main results from 22 years of surveys will be reviewed. Preliminary findings of a larger effort to re-analyse this data set are presented with a particular focus on the statistical analysis of the data for which no orbits could be determined and on a comparison of the actual observations with reference populations, in particular the MASTER population.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2023
Track: Space Debris