Kira Abercromby, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Brent Buckalew, Jacobs, Heather Cowardin, University of Texas, El Paso
Keywords: space object identification, spectral observations in GEO
Abstract:
Presented herein are the results of the Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) spectral observations of orbiting objects taken between 2006-2008. The data collected using the SpeX infrared spectrograph cover the wavelength range 1-8 ?m. Overall, data were collected on twenty different orbiting objects at or near the geosynchronous (GEO) regime. Four of the objects were controlled spacecraft, seven were non-controlled spacecraft, five were rocket bodies, and the final four were cataloged as debris pieces. The remotely collected data are compared to the laboratory-collected reflectance data on typical spacecraft materials thereby general materials are identified but not specific types. These results highlight the usefulness of observations in the infrared focusing on features from hydrocarbons due to paint, silicon, and the beginning of thermal emission from the debris itself. The spacecraft, both the controlled and non-controlled, show distinct features due to solar panels while the rocket bodies do not. The variations in signature between the types of rocket bodies show a presence of metals instead of solar panels showing that one can distinguish most spacecraft from rocket bodies through the infrared spectrum analysis. Finally, the debris pieces tend to show featureless, dark spectra. These results show that the laboratory data in its current state give an excellent idea as to the materials on the surface of the objects. Further remote data collection as well as updating the models to include noise, surface roughness, and material degradation is necessary to make a better assessment of material types. However, based on the current state of the comparison between the observations and the laboratory data, infrared spectroscopic data are adequate to classify objects in GEO as spacecraft, rocket bodies, or debris.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2015
Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization