350 rub
Journal Information-measuring and Control Systems №11 for 2014 г.
Article in number:
Techniques of satellite characterization for the space situational awareness of USA
Keywords: characterization of satellites space situational awareness radar image optical signature
Authors:
V. E. Turkov - Ph.D. (Phys.-Math.), Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics» (Moscow)
S. A. Ulyanov - Research Scientist, Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics» (Moscow)
V. V. Shakhovsky - Ph.D. (Eng.), Senior Research Scientist, Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics» (Moscow)
S. Yu. Potashov - Ph.D. (Phys.-Math.), Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics» (Moscow)
Abstract:
To achieve the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) the military and political leadership of USA are developing a system, which includes the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). The latter is aimed at detection of resident space objects and at maintaining the space object catalogue. Besides, to counteract multiple threats it is necessary not only to localize spacecrafts on their orbits, but also to identify them, determine their mission and, ideally, to clarify their intentions. To this end the SSN performs characterization of orbital vehicles (Space Object Identification  SOI). The following satellite parameters are determined: class and type, state (operating / non-operating) and functions, mission (primary and secondary), state change. Anomalies are detected and analyzed (such as loss of communication etc.). According to Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) now the time of newly launched satellite SOI is prohibitively long - about 6 months, while to maintain SSA it is necessary to bring it down to one period of orbital revolution. In the current work capabilities of characterization techniques of satellites are analyzed, which utilize their optical and radar images as well as their signatures, being photo- and radar signal dependencies on time, phase angle etc. Images of satellites are obtained for the SSN by wideband radars (HAX, HUSIR etc.) with maximum spatial resolution of 3 cm and big optical telescopes of 3.5m class with adaptive optics (AO), such as AEOS and Starfire, with the angular resolution close to the diffraction limit of 0.27×106, as well as by the regular specialized SSN optoelectronic sensors of 0.51 m class using PCID technology. Characterization of satellites using optical signatures does not require expensive optoelectronic systems with adaptive optics. For example, photometric signatures, obtained by 0.4m Raven telescope of HANDS system, made it possible to detect the state change (operating / non-operating) of Gstar 4 geostationary satellite. According to simulation results, the application of IR-signatures will make it possible to detect (under ideal conditions) on a satellite of TacSat-3 type (low orbit of 420449 km) solar panels a black spot of 0.6% relative dimensions with relative optical properties difference between the spot and the panels of 1119%.
Pages: 3-12
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