Ji?í ilha, Comenius University; Pavol Zigo, Comenius University; Matej Zigo, Comenius University; Peter Jevcak, Comenius University; Stanislav Kraj?ovi?, Comenius University and Tila s.r.o,; Michael Steindorfer, Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences; Georg Kirchner, Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences; Peiyuan Wang, Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences; Palash Patole, Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern; Thomas Schildknecht, Astronomisches Institut Universität Bern; Beatriz Jilete, ESA Space Debris Office; Tim Flohrer, ESA Space Debris Office
Keywords: passive sensor, SLR tracking, LEO, space debris, astrometry
Abstract:
Primary motivation for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) objects tracking with passive optical systems is from operational point of view to support the tracking of space debris objects with Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR). The Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (FMPI) operates 70 cm newton telescope (AGO70) situated at the Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra, Slovakia (AGO). Observation program of this sensor focuses on space debris tracking situated from LEO up to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO).
In recent years several major updates have been performed to the systems hardware and software including telescopes mount control unit (MCU), observation scheduling and control system (SCH, LLTC), image processing system (IPS) and TLE improvement system (TLEI). MCU along with SCH and LLTC allows to observe objects on LEO with angular velocities up to 1.5 deg/s. One of the most crucial sub-system is IPS which has been extensively tested and validated on different types of images, from images acquired with sidereal tracking, to images acquired for LEO objects. TLEI provides interface with Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) sensor, namely Graz SLR station operated by the Space Research Institute (IWF), Austrian Academy of Sciences (Austria) to improve debris detection efficiency by the SLR sensor. Supporting angle and range measurements to LEO objects were provided by the ZIMLAT telescope operated by the Astronomical Institute of University of Bern (AIUB) (Switzerland). These observations are used to perform detail dynamical analysis of the observed targets.
In our work we present the AGO70s overall design and discuss in detail all its subsystems, as well as interfaces. Presented will be its performance for real-time observation data provision towards SLR station to improve the stations tracking efficiency of LEO debris and of calibration objects (validation). Furthermore, the angle and range measurements acquired by three different sensors, AGO70 (passive optical) (SK), Graz SLR (active optical) (AT) and ZIMLAT (hybrid) (CH), are used for astrodynamic analysis of observed targets.
Date of Conference: September 14-17, 2021
Track: Optical Systems & Instrumentation