An instrument design for space-based optical observations of space debris

Paper number

IAC-05-B6.1.08

Author

Mr. Frank Wokke, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Tim Flohrer, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Coauthor

Mr. Arjan Kramer, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Juhani Peltonen, Finland

Coauthor

Dr. Thomas Schildknecht, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Coauthor

Ms. Edith Stöveken, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Coauthor

Dr. Eino Valtonen, Finland

Year

2005

Abstract

Currently, observations of space debris are mainly performed with  ground-based sensors. These sensors  have a detection limit at some centimetres diameter for objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and at about two decimetres diameter for objects in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). The few space-based debris observations stem mainly from in-situ measurements and from the analysis of returned spacecraft surfaces. Both provide mainly information about sub-millimetre-sized debris particles. As a consequence the population of centimetre- and millimetre-sized debris objects remains poorly understood.

The development, validation and improvement of debris reference models drive the need for measurements covering the whole diameter range. In 2003 the European Space Agency (ESA) initiated a study entitled “Space-Based Optical Observation of Space Debris”. The first tasks of the study were to define user requirements and to develop an observation strategy for a space-based instrument capable of observing uncatalogued millimetre-sized debris objects. Only passive optical observations were considered, focussing on mission concepts for the LEO, GEO and GTO (Geostationary Transfer Orbit) regions respectively. Starting from the requirements and the observation strategy, an instrument system architecture and an associated operations concept have been elaborated. The instrument system architecture covers the telescope, camera and onboard processing electronics. The telescope is a folded Schmidt design, characterised by a 20 cm aperture and a large field of view. The camera design is based on a cooled hybrid sensor with four megapixels and fast read-out. For the onboard processing, a scalable architecture has been selected. Performance simulations have been executed for the system as designed, focussing on the orbit determination of observed debris particles, and on the analysis of the applied algorithms.

In this paper we present the results of the completed study. An overview of the user requirements and observation strategy is given. The architectural design of the instrument and the operations concept are discussed and the main trade-offs are outlined. Results of the performance simulations are presented.

Abstract document

IAC-05-B6.1.08.pdf

Manuscript document

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