Towards Routine Uncued Surveillance of Small Objects at and near Geostationary Orbit with Small Telescopes

Peter Zimmer, J.T. McGraw and Associates LLC, John T. McGraw, J.T. McGraw and Associates LLC, Mark R. Ackermann, J.T. McGraw and Associates LLC

Keywords: SSA, telescope, optical, GEO, GPU, CMOS

Abstract:

There is considerable interest in the capability to discover and monitor small objects (d ~ 20cm) in geosynchronous (GEO) and near-GEO orbital regimes using small, ground-based optical telescopes (D < 0.5m). The threat of such objects is clear. Small telescopes have an unrivaled cost advantage and, under ideal lighting and sky conditions, have the capability of detecting faint objects. This combination of conditions, however, is relatively rare, making routine and persistent surveillance more challenging. Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2017

Track: Optical Systems

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