GEO Satellites Tracking Using Optical Observations

Paper number

IAC-15,C1,4,8,x29255

Author

Dr. Shai Kaspi, Asher Space Research Institute (ASRI), Israel

Coauthor

Mr. Yaniv Weiss, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel

Coauthor

Dr. Alexander Shiryaev, Israel

Coauthor

Dr. Alexander Kogan, Technion, I.I.T., Israel

Coauthor

Prof. Ehud Behar, Asher Space Research Institute (ASRI), Israel

Year

2015

Abstract

In order to better measure and model the position of geosynchronous 
satellites in space, we developed an autonomous robotic system to optically
observe the satellite and determine its position on the sky. The satellite 
is imaged on a CCD camera through a telescope that is positioned is a 
closed building. The images are reduced automatically and the angular 
position of the satellite is found. We use a novel method to find the 
satellite position on the image which involves several exposures on the 
same image and a new algorithm to determine the satellite angular position 
relative to the stars in the image. The angular position is then used through 
a detailed model to better determine the position of the satellite and 
to propagate its trajectory to future times with a good accuracy. The 
position is found to an accuracy of about 0.5 arcsec (less than 100 meters). Combining the angular position with radar range measurements of the 
position of the satellite can improve its known position.

Abstract document

IAC-15,C1,4,8,x29255.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,C1,4,8,x29255.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.