Feasibility of performing space surveillance tasks with a proposed space-based optical architecture

Under ESA contract an industrial consortium including Aboa Space Research Oy (ASRO), the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB), and the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), proposed the observation concept, developed a suitable sensor architecture, and assessed the performance of a space-based optical (SBO) telescope in 2005. The goal of the SBO study was to analyse how the existing knowledge gap in the space debris population in the millimetre and centimetre regime may be closed by means of a passive optical instrument. The SBO instrument was requested to provide statistical information on the space debris population in terms of number of objects and size distribution. The SBO instrument was considered to be a cost-efficient with 20 cm aperture and 6° field-of-view and having flexible integration requirements. It should be possible to integrate the SBO instrument easily as a secondary payload on satellites launched into low-Earth orbits (LEO), or into geostationary orbit (GEO). Thus the selected mission concept only allowed for fix-mounted telescopes, and the pointing direction could be requested freely. Since 2007 ESA focuses space surveillance and tracking activities in the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) preparatory program. Ground-based radars and optical telescopes are studied for the build-up and maintenance of a catalogue of objects. In this paper we analyse how the proposed SBO architecture could contribute to the space surveillance tasks survey and tracking. We assume that the SBO instrumentation is placed into a circular sun-synchronous orbit at 800 km altitude. We discuss the observation conditions of objects at higher altitude, and select an orbit close to the terminator plane. A pointing of the sensor orthogonal to the orbital plane with optimal elevation slightly in positive direction (0° and +5°) is found optimal for accessing the entire GEO regime within one day, implying a very good coverage of controlled objects in GEO, too. Simulations using ESA’s Program for Radar and Optical Observation Forecasting (PROOF) in the version 2005 and a GEO reference population extracted from DISCOS revealed that the proposed pointing scenario provides low phase angles together with low angular velocities of the objects crossing the field-of-view. Radiometric simulations show that the optimal exposure time is 1–2 s, and that spherical objects in GEO with a diameter of below 1 m can be detected. The GEO population can be covered under proper illumination nearly completely, but seasonal drops of the coverage are possible. Subsequent observations of objects are on average at least every 1.5 days, not exceeding 3 days at maximum. A single observation arc spans 3° to 5° on average. Using a simulation environment that connects PROOF to AIUB’s program system CelMech we verify the consistency of the initial orbit determination for five selected test objects on subsequent days as a function of realistic astrometric noise levels. The initial orbit determination is possible. We define requirements for a correlator process essential for catalogue build-up and maintenance. Each single observation should provide an astrometric accuracy of at least 1”–1.5” so that the initially determined orbits are consistent within a few hundred kilometres for the semi-major axis, 0.01 for the eccentricity, and 0.1° for the inclination.     

Ionization effect of solar protons in the Earth atmosphere – Case study of the 20 January 2005 SEP event

The cosmic ray ground level enhancement on January 20, 2005 is among the largest recorded events in the history of cosmic ray measurements. The solar protons of MeV energies cause an excess of ionization in the atmosphere, specifically over polar caps following major solar disturbances. The ionization effect in the Earth atmosphere is obtained for various latitudes on the basis of solar proton energy spectra, reconstructed from GOES 11 measurements and subsequent full Monte Carlo simulation of cosmic ray induced atmospheric cascade. The estimation of ionization rates is based on a numerical model for cosmic ray induced ionization. The evolution of atmospheric cascade is performed with the CORSIKA 6.52 code using FLUKA 2006b and QGSJET II hadron interaction models. The atmospheric ion rate ionization is explicitly obtained for 40°N, 60°N and 80°N latitudes. The time evolution of obtained ion rates is presented. It is demonstrated that ionization effect is negative for 40°N and small for 60°N, because of accompanying Forbush decrease. The ionization effect is significant only in sub-polar and polar atmosphere during the major ground level enhancement of 20 January 2005.     

The possibilities of polar meteorology,environmental remote sensing,communications and space weather applications from Artificial Lagrange Orbit

The ability to observe meteorological events in the polar regions of the Earth from satellite celebrated an anniversary, with the launch of TIROS-I in a pseudo-polar orbit on 1 April 1960. Yet, after 50 years, polar orbiting satellites are still the best view of the polar regions of the Earth. The luxuries of geostationary satellite orbit including rapid scan operations, feature tracking, and atmospheric motion vectors (or cloud drift winds), are enjoyed only by the middle and tropical latitudes or perhaps only cover the deep polar regions in the case of satellite derived winds from polar orbit. The prospect of a solar sailing satellite system in an Artificial Lagrange Orbit (ALO, also known as “pole sitters”) offers the opportunity for polar environmental remote sensing, communications, forecasting and space weather monitoring. While there are other orbital possibilities to achieve this goal, an ALO satellite system offers one of the best analogs to the geostationary satellite system for routine polar latitude observations.     

卫星遥感影像外方位元素的误差传播研究

高分辨率卫星遥感影像的几何定位精度与影像外方位元素精度密切相关.文章针对单景影像直接对地定位和立体影像前方交会定位两种典型情况,对影像各外方位元素在目标几何定位中的误差传播规律进行分析比较,相关结论可供卫星姿控及相机载荷设计方参考.     

基于刃边法的星载相机在轨MTF测量精度分析

调制传递函数(MTF)反映可见光对地遥感系统在对地物成像过程中信号的扩散与削弱程度,是表达系统辐射性能的重要指标.文章对星载可见光CCD相机在轨MTF主要测量方法进行比对分析,通过数据仿真,重点对随机噪声、边缘探测与拟合等主要影响刃边法精度的因素进行了分析.分析结果表明,计算所用刃边法能够较准确地计算可见光遥感系统的M...     

基于热电制冷技术的某星载相机焦面组件热设计

热电制冷(Thermo-Electric Cooling,TEC)技术是利用帕尔帖效应的一种制冷方法,它不需要任何工质,无活动部件,结构简单,非常适宜于微型制冷领域或有特殊要求的场合.文章将TEC技术应用于某星载相机焦面组件的热设计,解决了探测器恒温控制问题.仿真分析结果表明,基于TEC技术的热设计方案在满足探测器恒温...     

长焦距同轴三反空间相机光学系统研究

为了满足空间遥感不同应用的需求,完成了4种型式的长焦距同轴三反光学系统设计。根据同轴三反光学系统设计理论,介绍了同轴三反光学系统设计初始结构设计方法,以工作谱段0．45-0．9μm、F数10、焦距10m为例,对4种型式的长焦距同轴三反光学系统进行优化设计,设计视场内获得接近衍射极限的成像品质,并分析和比较了这几种光学系...     

MTF对立体测绘高程精度影响研究

MTF（调制传递函数）是反映测绘相机性能的重要指标,研究MTF对测绘高程精度的影响可以对相机的设计指标提出要求,对提高测绘精度具有极其重要的意义。文章通过计算机仿真的方法进行研究,利用3DStudioMax软件构建三维模型与模拟成像、用Harris算子提取图像特征点,并用奇异值分解与最小二乘法进行特征点的匹配,通过前方...     

InGaAs探测器热电制冷方法研究

InGaAs探测器在短波红外领域具有良好的探测率,对空间遥感和探测有重要的价值。为了实现空间红外仪器的高灵敏度要求,使用热电制冷技术设计了探测器制冷系统,使探测器稳定地工作在合适的温度,以相对较小的体积和功耗代价显著地提高红外仪器的探测灵敏度。     

强度关联遥感成像技术

过去十多年中,利用光场的量子（或经典）涨落及其关联获取目标图像信息的量子（强度）关联成像技术和基于自适应稀疏结构表象的信号处理技术的不断发展,为图像信息的获取提供了一条可突破传统光学成像技术图像分辨率和图像获取效率理论极限的全新技术途径。文章将概括地介绍这一研究方向,并简要讨论其在遥感领域中的应用前景和需要进一步研究的...