Development of an infrared sensor model for space debris observations
- Paper number
IAC-11,A6,2,11,x10536
- Author
Mr. Johannes Gelhaus, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sergej Schneider, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sven Kevin Flegel, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Marek Moeckel, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Vitali Braun, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Carsten Wiedemann, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Holger Krag, European Space Agency (ESA), Germany
- Coauthor
Prof.Dr. Heiner Klinkrad, European Space Agency (ESA), Germany
- Coauthor
Prof. Peter Voersmann, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
- Year
2011
- Abstract
Nowadays space debris observations are normally made by radars or optical telescopes. Radars are used for the detection of objects down to about 10cm in low earth orbit (LEO). Optical telescopes instead are used for observations of the medium earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GEO) with a lower size of detected object at about 50cm. Both types of sensors can be simulated using ESAs program for radar and optical observation forecasting (PROOF). In addition to radar and optical telescopes a sensor which is operated in the infrared region could be useful for extending the capacity of space debris observations. To be prepared for the simulation of infrared (IR) sensors, extensions have been made for the optical sensor model. Analogically to the optical sensor model inside the IR-sensor model sources of discrete and continuous background radiation are simulated. These stellar background sources are mostly derived from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) observation data from {\it Kellsat }et al. and {\it Wainscoat }et al. Using superposition for the signature of the background and the debris a CCD is virtually charged and it is analysed whether detection is possible or not. Debris is assumed in this modelling approach as spherical grey {\it Lambertian source}. For different debris sources the absorption of visible light and the radiation in the range of inrared is also estimated. To calculate the debris radiation the laws of {\it Planck}, {\it Wien}, {\it Rayleigh-Jeans} and {\it Kirchhoff }have been applied. The here discussed IR-sensor model is designed and tested in a first step for an operating range within wavelengths of 8-25$\mu$m. This paper will show first results of the implemented IR-sensor model and give in insight into the sensor modelling. Comparing this first version of an IR-sensor model with the existing optical model will help to analyse whether additional sensor types like an IR-sensor can be helpful to close gaps in the detected object size of space debris.- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)