Sam Kirkwood, HEO; Jack Sines, HEO; James Allworth, HEO; Karla Vincent, HEO; Hannah Dawe, HEO; Francesco Scopelliti, HEO; Hiranya Jayakody, HEO; William Crowe, HEO
Keywords: non-earth imagery, non-earth imaging, imaging, NEI, space based assets, attitude, tumble rate
Abstract:
Resident Space Object (RSO) characterisation is essential for effective space domain awareness, supporting both government and commercial operations. Understanding the attitude state and stability of RSOs is a critical component of characterisation, but traditional observation methods, such as ground-based optical and radar observations, face limitations. Flyby Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) offers a complementary approach by directly capturing resolved images of RSOs. This paper presents an overview of the approach used to derive attitude state and tumble rates from these datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of flyby NEI in providing attitude data across multiple objects in different orbits. To validate our methodology, we applied it to simulated datasets with a range of known ground truth rotation rates and axes. Additionally, our method was applied to real data and correctly identified stable, actively controlled satellites as non-tumbling, reinforcing its ability to differentiate between operational and uncontrolled objects. Reliable attitude state characterisation has broad implications for space situational awareness and satellite operations. NEI-derived attitude can support satellite health assessments, anomaly detection, and debris monitoring, contributing to improved space traffic management and the long-term sustainability of space activities.
Date of Conference: September 16-19, 2025
Track: Space-Based Assets