Optical surveys for space debris

Abstract

Space debris-man-made non-functional objects of all sizes in near-Earth space-has been recognized as an increasing threat for current and future space operations. The debris population in near-Earth space has therefore been extensively studied during the last decade. Information on objects at altitudes higher than about 2,000 km is, however, still comparatively sparse. Debris in this region is best detected by surveys utilizing optical telescopes. Moreover, the instruments and the applied observation techniques, as well as the processing methods, have many similarities with those used in optical surveys for 'astronomical' objects like near-Earth objects (NEOs).The present article gives a general introduction to the problem of space debris, presents the used observation and processing techniques emphasizing the similarities and differences compared to optical surveys for NEOs, and reviews the results from optical surveys for space debris in high-altitude Earth orbits. Predictions on the influence of space debris on the future of space research and space astronomy in particular are reported as well.

Analysis on the long-term dynamical evolution of the inclined geosynchronous orbits in the Chinese BeiDou navigation system

“…The orbital eccentricity e of the conventional GEO satellites with low inclination presents periodic variation in the long-term evolution, but its variation range is so small that the initial near circular characteristic is not altered under the effects of the Earth's actual gravitational field, the luni-solar perturbations and the solar radiation pressure (Zhao et al, 2013). The effect of the oblateness of the Earth and the luni-solar perturbations produces an important and periodic variation of the inclination i with value as high as 15°and a period of about 53 years, for the near circular GEO satellites with initial inclination of about 0° (Allan and Cook, 1964;Schildknecht, 2007;Valk et al, 2009;Ulivieri et al, 2013). However, the dynamical evolution of the IGSO satellites with high inclination has rarely been studied so far.…”

“…geostationary orbit satellites) has been studied clearly (Allan and Cook, 1964;Schildknecht, 2007;Zhao et al, 2013;Ulivieri et al, 2013). The mean motion of the GEO satellites is commensurable with the angular velocity of the Earth, which leads to 1:1 orbital resonance.…”

Proposed strategies for optical observations in a future European Space Surveillance network

“…In the entire work we did not consider objects with extreme area-to-mass-ratios (A/m) (Schildknecht, 2007). Here, we focused our analysis on objects larger than 1 m in diameter having a ''classical'' A/m of 0.02 m 2 /kg.…”

An optical survey for space debris on highly eccentric and inclined MEO orbits

“…Recently, an extension of the ongoing space debris surveys to new orbital regions, in particular to the increasingly populated MEO region was undertaken (Schildknecht et al, 2012). In the latter study the work focused more on circular MEO orbits, including GPS and GLONASS constellations.…”