Optical CubeSat Discrimination

Doyle Hall (AMOS, Boeing LTS)

Keywords: Non-Resolved Object Characterization

Abstract:

Groups of CubeSats launched from the same upper stage vehicle often have identical size and other similarities in gross structure. However, these satellites often deploy a mission-specific configuration of wire antennas and/or cylindrical boom structures which can serve as unique identifiers. Such structures readily glint sunlight which create tell-tale photometric patterns that can reveal their size and orientation with respect to the main cubical body and provide a means of CubeSat characterization and discrimination.

Date of Conference: September 16-19, 2008

Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization

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