Advanced electro-optical sensors and surveillance system technologies are being developed that would lead to future space-based surveillance systems. These multi-spectral sensors would operate in the visible and MWIR wavebands and be configured to be compact, lightweight, and low power to permit deployment on lightsat-type platforms and launch vehicles.The sensors for multi-spectral space surveillance (MSS) are small (8 inch) electro-optical systems which use large staring focal planes to provide maximum detection capability through integration. Operation in visible and MWIR bands permit surveillance of sateffites in sunlight and in earth shadow. Four to six small sateffites with these sensors at low altitude provide essentially instantaneous coverage of orbital space out to geosynchronous altitudes.Relevant sensor technologies that are being developed for this application include visible CCD, JR Schottky-Barrier CCD staring focal plane arrays; highly compact, high throughput detection signal processors; lightweight, compact multi-spectral optics; and small, reliable cryogenic refrigerators for FPA and telescope cooling.A baseline sensor design has been derived along with a total sensor payload configuration with size, weight, shape and power requirements compatible with those for a satellite deployed by the Pegasus launch system. A technology and experimental sensor development program for the lightsat MSS system concepts is currently underway which will be the basis for sensor flight tests in the near future.
The detection and cataloging of near-Earth asteroids and comets is of considerable current interest in the international scientific and policy making communities. Electro-optical technology developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory for satellite tracking applications is well suited to the detection and tracking of faint near-Earth objects. This technology includes state-of-theart, large-format CCDs with noise and readout performances which considerably exceed those of CCDs employed in current NEO search systems. The performance of the Lincoln Laboratory CCDs and surveillance techniques enables the construction of a NEO search system using 1-meter class telescopes while retaining the performance of the Spaceguard system [I] which proposes 2.5-meter class telescopes. Use of smaller telescopes results in considerable system construction cost savings.The performance of the new CCDs and the associated support system has been demonstrated as part of ongoing, routine device testing and field operations. In 1993, field measurements demonstrated the performance of the CCD technology by using a 1024 by 1024 pixel format CCD mounted on a 31-inch telescope to conduct a limited search for asteroids. Field test efforts in 1995 will employ the next generation CCD, with a 2560 by 1960 pixel format, to validate the technology for use in an NEO search. REFERENCE
As part of the GEODSS-CCD Technology Program, a series of three electro-optical tests of CCD Imagers was conducted on the GEODSS Experimental Test System (ETS) at Socorro. New Mexico. The tests were preliminary to establish the basis for developing and testing an advanced CCD automatic detection system which would provide Improved sensitivity and scan coverage rate for GEODSS applications.These preliminary tests resulted in the successful demonstration of STARE and Image-motlon-compensation (IMC) modes of operation, and provided a thorough evaluation and verification of present CCD system design models. Also, interesting electro-optical performance levels were demonstrated, compared with existing GEODSS system designs. As part of the GEODSS Program in the Space Surveillance Group, several projects are directed at the development of technologies which could lead to an automatic search and detection system for satellite surveillance, with improvements in sensitivity and high scan coverage rate. AtCESStONThis proposed system design is based on the unique features provided by charge-coupled-device (CCD) technologies for both optical imaging as well as video analog signal processing. The focal plain design for the proposed system incorporates a mosaic array of 25 to 30 CCD imager chips which are continuously scanned in the CCD Image-motion-compensation (IMC) mode with multiple measurements provided by several imagers on-focal-plane in the scan direction for MTI processing. CCD imager and processing chips are being developed by the Microelectronics Group in support of this technology program design. A preliminary measurements program is presently under way to determine the electro-optical characteristics of these CCD imagers in laboratory measurements, as well as camera field tests using existing telescopes at the GEODSS ETS. A. Site-Test ObjectivesThe overall objectives for the initial CCD camera site-tests were to evaluate the electrooptical, mechanical, and operational interfaces with the existing ETS sensors and to measure various aspects of CCD camera performance to allow a comparison with laboratory measurements and theoretical design predictions. Specifically, all interface requirements were to be satisfied and measurements taken on calibration stars and selected satellites to provide data on sensitivity, dynamic range, photo-responsivity, resolution, metric registration, acquisition capability for STARE and !MC, and effects of telescope dynamics for the IMC mode. The electrooptical experimental system and measurements were aimed at sensor characterization only. Although STARE and IMC modes were used and targets acquired, it was not intended or possible to conduct automatic searches with the existing imager electronic test system. B. Results SummaryAll site test objectives were achieved in this preliminary series of tests. Both STAREand IMC-mode operation were successfully demonstrated for the single-chip CCD camera. Over the total of the periods of testing; more than t00 measurement observations were a...
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