Masahiko Uetsuhara (Kyushu University), Toshiya Hanada (Kyushu University), Hitoshi Yamaoka (Kyushu University), Tomoko Fujiwara (Kyushu University), Toshifumi Yanagisawa (Japan Space Exploration Agency), Hirohisa Kurosaki (Japan Space Exploration Agency), Yukihito Kitazawa (IHI Corporation)
Keywords: Orbital Debris Modeling, Optical Observation, Small Telescope, GEO, Faint Object Detection
Abstract:
This paper proposes to apply orbital debris modeling techniques, which describes debris generation and propagation to define debris environment, to ground-based optical measurements that may be most effective in space situational awareness in GEO. The techniques enable us to predict population of debris from confirmed and/or unconfirmed breakup events. The predicted debris population specifies effectively when, where and how we should conduct optical measurements using ground-based telescopes. The techniques also enable us to predict motion of debris. The predicted debris motion specifies effectively and precisely how we should process image sequences of objects in GEO, acquired using ground-based telescopes. This paper also applies the proposed approach to small telescopes with 1 m and smaller aperture and to hypothetical breakup events in and near GEO to demonstrate. Results from actual measurements performed conclude that the proposed approach can conduct predictive analyses of space objects that include characterizing, tracking and predicting the behavior of individual and groups of space objects and conduct image processing methods to effectively decrease limitation on remote imaging of space objects.
Date of Conference: September 14-17, 2010
Track: Orbital Debris