Mark Rutten (Defence Science and Technology Oragnisation), Nick Harwood (DSTL), James Bennett (EOS Australia), Pat Donnelly (DSTL), Andy Ash (DSTL), Jon Eastment (STFC UK), Darcy Ladd (STFC UK), Neil Gordon (DSTO), Travis Bessell (DSTO), Craig Smith (EOS Australia), Ian Ritchie (EOS Australia)
Keywords: SSA, orbit determination
Abstract:
In February 2014 the UK and Australia carried out a joint space surveillance target tracking, cueing, and sensor data fusion experiment involving the STFC Chilbolton Observatory radar in the UK, the EOS laser-ranging system in Australia and a small telescope operated by DSTO, also in Australia. The experiment, coordinated by DSTL (UK) and DSTO (Aus), was designed to explore the combination of several different, geographically separated sensors for space situational awareness. The primary goal of the experiment was to use data from the radar in the UK to generate an orbital cue to the EOS SLR. A variety of targets sizes and orbits were chosen, under the limitations of observability by both the radar and EOS SLR, in order to explore the variation of cueing accuracy with amount of data incorporated and timeliness from generation. As a secondary objective the effect on cue accuracy of targets in lower orbital regimes was examined. This paper examines the orbit determination techniques used to generate cues from radar and the refined orbits resulting from accumulating SLR data. The construction of tracks using data from all three sensors is explored. Analysis of the accuracy of the orbital reconstructions is made based on comparisons with the measured data and accurate ephemerides provided by the ILRS. The accuracy is tested against the cueing precision requirements for each sensor. Two companion papers describe the experimental goals, execution and achievements (Harwood et. al.) and the sensor aspects of the experiment (Eastment et al.).
Date of Conference: September 9-12, 2014
Track: Space Situational Awareness