Search and study of the space debris and asteroids within ISON project

Abstract

International Scientifi c Optical Network (ISON) is an open international voluntary project specializing in observations of the near-Earth space objects. Observatories collaborating with ISON provide the global coverage and successfully combine the observations of the space debris and asteroids. The network includes more than 50 telescopes of 27 observatories in 15 countries and has been working since 2005. ISON monitors the whole GEO region and tracks the objects at GEO, GTO, HEO and LEO. ISON data allowing maintenance of the database of the space objects orbits, validating space debris population model and providing conjunction assessment analysis for satellites at high orbits. ISON develops the technology of asteroid survey with small telescopes and arranges regular photometry observations of near-Earth asteroids (NEA) to investigate the YORP effect, search new binary NEAs, and support radar experiments.

Daylight Measurement Acquisition of Defunct Resident Space Objects Combining Active and Passive Electro-Optical Systems

“…Most of the current dedicated optical ground stations are concentrated in the mid latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Examples of the distribution of such networks are given by the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) [12], for the passive electro-optical case, and by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) [13] for the active electro-optical; note that from the ILRS, only selected stations are able to observe either cooperative RSOs during daylight, or noncooperative RSOs with high power dedicated defunct RSO lasers. Even though there are recent developments of tracking networks with a better geographical distribution, such as the Small Aperture Robotic Telescope Network (SMARTnet) [14], the productivity of such observing networks is restricted mainly to night observation sessions.…”