Broadband Array Spectrograph System (BASS) thermal IR observations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) objects in sunlit and darkness conditions
- Paper number
IAC-17,A6,1,6,x36581
- Author
Dr. Mark A. Skinner, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Ray Russell, The Aerospace Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Richard Rudy, The Aerospace Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Daryl Kim, The Aerospace Corporation, United States
- Year
2017
- Abstract
The thermal environment that a resident space object finds itself in can be quite different depending on if it is sunlight or in Earth’s shadow. Especially interesting can be the self-emitted thermal signature of the object as it transits through the Earth’s penumbra, and possibly undergoes rapid heating or cooling. Information may be gleaned about the thermal properties of the space object, including the heat capacity of the object. In this work, we report on long-wave thermal IR observations of man-made space objects, taken with the Aerospace Corporation’s Broadband Array Spectrograph System (BASS), in both the IR (3-13 $\mu$µm), as well as the visible, as they pass into or out of Earth’s shadow. We present results for observations we have of LEO objects (calibration spheres and active satellites), as well as GEO objects (an active satellite and a high-area to mass ratio (HAMR) debris object). We describe our methods, the data collected, our analysis approach and results, and our future plans.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-17,A6,1,6,x36581.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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