Hirohisa Kurosaki (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Toshifumi Yanagisawa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Atsushi Nakajima (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
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Abstract:
Geosynchronous orbit and low earth orbit have many artificial satellites, and the accidents of these satellites affect every area such as weather forecasts and communications. In the optical observation, the periodical change of the brightness which is caused by the type and the shape of the satellite is seen. For space debris, it is possible to estimate its approximate shape from its rotational condition. Recently, we are studying the estimation of the shape of the debris from the optical observation. In the case of LEO debris, since the movement is fast, it crosses the field of view in several seconds. We used an observation method to get the data of LEO debris. This method observes a field of view in the sky calculated from the TLE of targeted Iridium 33 debris so that a track of the target is obtained. The exposure is begun right before the targeted debris passes through the field of view. We tried this method at March 11, 2009, and observed several pieces of debris. It seems that comparatively large and bright debris was detected by this method. The positions and tilts of the streaks of light, and the observed times are in good agreement with forecasts from the orbital elements, convincing us that the observed streaks of light are the targets. In case of the GEO debris, the rate of motion is slow in comparison with LEO debris. Fixed stars are observed by the same position on the image when the telescope is operated in sidereal tracking mode. Then, an artificial satellite and debris are recorded on the image with streaks of light. When the telescope is observing an equatorial belt especially, satellites pass the field of view one after another. Rotation periods of some satellites and some pieces of space debris in the geosynchronous orbit which were detected in the observational images were calculated in this research. In this paper, the observation and the detection method of light curve of geosynchronous orbit debris are discussed. Observing the changes of the operative satellites with some time intervals may help to detect the abnormalities and accidents of them.
Date of Conference: September 1-4. 2009
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