Tamara Payne (Boeing LTS), Stephen A. Gregory (Boeing LTS), Kim Luu (Air Force Research Laboratory)
Keywords: NROC, Non-Resolved Object Characterization
Abstract:
We analyze the photometric signatures of 36 GEOS located over CONUS or US Pacific territory by introducing a photometry-based classification system. Approximately 80% of these satellites appear to belong to one of two different classifications and can be qualitatively explained by the actual satellite shape. For those satellite signatures with an identifiable peak in brightness, we also examined the satellites solar panel pointing offsets. The distribution of offsets ranges from -10o to +10o and is slightly concentrated near a value of 0o with a slight positive bias.
The utility of this kind of study lies mostly in two areas. The first is that development of the classification system will lead to better Space Object Identification (SOI) techniques. The second will lead to better Space Situational Awareness (SSA) techniques as observations of change detections in the solar panel offsets give insight into operations, health status, and/or anomalies of satellites.
Date of Conference: September 10-14, 2006
Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization