Evaluation of the Naval Space Surveillance Fence Performance Using Satellite Laser Ranging

Gilbreath, G. C.; Schumacher, Paul W.; Davis, Mark A.; Lydick, Edward D.; Anderson, John M.

doi:10.2514/2.4361

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…2 The advantages and limitations of each should be understood, not only in terms of precision, but also in terms of space surveillance opemtional needs.…”

Section: Two Slr-based Calibration Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Error analysis for laser-based metric calibration of the Naval Space Surveillance System

et al. 1998

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The Naval Space Surveillance System is a network of continuous-wave VHF interfemmeter stations designed to detect Earth satellites. Angular metric data from the system are used in real time to update the catalog of known space objects maintained by the Air Force and Naval components of United States Space Command. For many yeais, the system has operated with a near real-time calibration of the detector electronics but without a rigorous tie to an external refemxe franc. One way to establish such a tie is by comparing system measurements with data derived by Satellite Laser Ranging. In principle, public-domain laser ranging data on geodetic satellites can always be used to genenite a few high-precision iefemie oibits whose ephemerides can be compaid with surveillance measurements. In the right circumstances, special laser tracking data on any suitable satellite can be taken simultaneously with surveillance measurements and compaid directly. Both approaches offer benefit to space surveillance operations, and both have been demonstrated in pivious work. This analysis initiates the analytical investigation of how precisely we can resolve errors in the surveillance measurements, using laser mnging-derived data. Equations ai presented which relate surveillance measurement uncertainties to reference data uncertainties in explicit terms. Simple geometric measurement models are considered, rather than detailed physical measurement models, in order to provide fundamental understanding of how enois transform in the two types of calibration considered. The resulting formulae are suitable for deriving calibration requirements and simplified error budgets, either analytically or by numerical simulation.

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“…2 The advantages and limitations of each should be understood, not only in terms of precision, but also in terms of space surveillance opemtional needs.…”

Section: Two Slr-based Calibration Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Error analysis for laser-based metric calibration of the Naval Space Surveillance System

et al. 1998

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“…Additionally, since the two objects have known σ rcs and SLR capabilities, observations of these satellites will provide optimal calibration targets for the radar fence maintained by the NNSOC. Use of SLR for calibration of the Fence has become part of Operations 10 .…”

Section: Performing Organization Name(s) and Address(es)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The atmospheric neutral density experiment (ANDE) and modulating retroreflector in space (MODRAS): combined flight experiments for the space test program

et al. 2003

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The Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment (ANDE) is a low cost mission proposed by the Naval Research Laboratory to demonstrate a method to monitor the thermospheric neutral density at an altitude of 400 km. The primary mission objective is to provide total neutral density along the orbit for improved orbit determination of resident space objects. The ANDE mission also serves as a test platform for a new space-to-ground optical communications technique, the Modulating Retro-reflector Array in Space (MODRAS) experiment. Both are sponsored in part by the Department of Defense Space Test Program.The mission consists of two spherical spacecraft fitted with retro-reflectors for satellite laser ranging (SLR). One spacecraft is completely passive; the other carries three active instruments; a miniature Wind And Temperature Spectrometer (WATS) to measure atmospheric composition, cross-track winds and neutral temperature; a Global Positioning Sensor (GPS); and a Thermal Monitoring System (TMS) to monitor the temperature of the sphere. A design requirement of the active satellite is to telemeter the data to the ground without external protrusions from the spherical spacecraft (i.e. an antenna). The active satellite will be fitted with the MODRAS system, which is an enabling technology for the ANDE mission. The MODRAS system consists of a set of multiple quantum well (MQW) modulating retro-reflectors coupled with an electronics package, which will telemeter data to the ground by modulating the reflected light from laser interrogation beam. This paper presents a mission overview and emphasis will be placed on the design, optical layout, performance, ground station, and science capabilities of the combined missions.

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“…Pearlman, Degnan, & Bosworth (2002) 2Hayden (1962);Gilbreath (1997);Schumacher et al (2001) 3 Neal,Coffey, & Knowles (1997);Coffey et al (1998);Boers et al (2000) 4 Boyce (…”

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confidence: 99%

Improved orbit predictions using two-line elements

Levit

Marshall

2011

Advances in Space Research

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The density of orbital space debris constitutes an increasing environmental challenge. There are three ways to alleviate the problem: debris mitigation, debris removal and collision avoidance. This paper addresses collision avoidance, by describing a method that contributes to achieving a requisite increase in orbit prediction accuracy. Batch least-squares differential correction is applied to the publicly available two-line element (TLE) catalog of space objects. Using a high-precision numerical propagator, we fit an orbit to state vectors derived from successive TLEs. We then propagate the fitted orbit further forward in time. These predictions are compared to precision ephemeris data derived from the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) for several satellites, including objects in the congested sun-synchronous orbital region. The method leads to a predicted range error that increases at a typical rate of 100 meters per day, approximately a 10-fold improvement over TLE's propagated with their associated analytic propagator (SGP4). Corresponding improvements for debris trajectories could potentially provide initial conjunction analysis sufficiently accurate for an operationally viable collision avoidance system. We discuss additional optimization and the computational requirements for applying all-on-all conjunction analysis to the whole TLE catalog, present and near future. Finally, we outline a scheme for debris-debris collision avoidance that may become practicable given these developments.Comment: Submitted to Advances in Space Research. 13 pages, 4 figure

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Evaluation of the Naval Space Surveillance Fence Performance Using Satellite Laser Ranging

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

Error analysis for laser-based metric calibration of the Naval Space Surveillance System

Error analysis for laser-based metric calibration of the Naval Space Surveillance System

The atmospheric neutral density experiment (ANDE) and modulating retroreflector in space (MODRAS): combined flight experiments for the space test program

Improved orbit predictions using two-line elements

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