Jiri Silha, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics; Stanislav Kraj?ovi?, Comenius University; Matej Zigo, Comenius University in Bratislava; Danica Zilkova, Comenius University in Bratislava; Pavol Zigo, Comenius University in Bratislava; Jaroslav Simon, Comenius University in Bratislava; Juraj Toth, Comenius University in Bratislava; Leonard Kornos, Comenius University in Bratislava; Srinivas Setty, ESA/ESOC, GMV Insyen AG; Tim Flohrer, ESA/ESOC Space Debris Office; Beatriz Jilete, Space Surveillance and Tracking Segment, Space Situational Awareness Programme;
Keywords: optical telescope, space debris, development, SST
Abstract:
Since 2016 the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (FMPI CU) has been developing its 70-cm Newton design telescope (AGO70). The development has been performed toward space debris tracking situated from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and its focused on the improvement of hardware, system control software, image processing software and the observation program.
The AGO70 has been installed at the FMPI’s Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra, Slovakia (AGO) in Fall 2016. It was a standard astronomical system capable to perform measurements of e.g. stellar objects, near Earth asteroids, comets, etc. To achieve that the system could be effectively used for space debris research and space surveillance tracking (SST), there were several predefined objectives to be accomplished. First, the hardware, e.g., telescope mount, needed to be evaluated quality-wise and improved. Secondly, it was imperative to adapt the low-level telescope control for the needs of space debris tracking. Thirdly, the image processing software has been developed in a modular way and validated. The observation planning has been formulated according to the AGO70 system’s hardware limitations with focus on LEO, GTO, GNSS and GEO like orbits. To verify the system’s capabilities, an observation campaign was performed.
In our work we present the AGO70 systems description and the requirements defined for the hardware, software and observation program to achieve the desired capabilities. Compared will be the systems performance before and after the improvements have been and will be implemented. Discussed will be the space debris observation programs of the AGO70 system with focus on systems output data description, their quality and formats.
Date of Conference: September 17-20, 2019
Track: Optical Systems & Instrumentation