Satellite Orbital Determination using the Desert Fireball Network

Paper number

IAC-17,A6,9,11,x40089

Author

Mr. Trent Jansen-Sturgeon, Curtin University, Australia

Coauthor

Prof. Philip Bland, Australia

Coauthor

Mr. Mark Rutten, Australia

Year

2017

Abstract

The Desert Fireball Network (DFN) is an array of over 50 camera observatories covering about three million square kilometres of Australia’s airspace, with the primary goal of remotely detecting and physically collecting meteorites. Each camera observatory records horizon-to-horizon long exposures every 30 seconds throughout the night. If a fireball is captured on two or more camera systems, the event is triangulated, and its impact site and originating orbit are determined.

In addition to meteoroid sightings, satellite passes have also been separately targeted and captured by the event detection software used in our DFN data pipeline. The angular measurements of an observed satellite are used to determine its orbit and predict future passes, aiding in debris detection and collision avoidance.

The really wide field of view sensor that is the DFN has the capability of performing a surveillance role, calculating initial satellite orbits which are sufficiently accurate to cue a narrow angle down-range sensor for additional orbital refinement. Also, unlike most satellite tracking systems, a triangulation technique can be applied to satellite orbital determination by using information from multiple observatories concurrently, resulting in a more precise orbit in a shorter observational window. Various methods of orbital determination will be discussed and compared to the theoretical lower bound of orbital accuracy.

Abstract document

IAC-17,A6,9,11,x40089.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,A6,9,11,x40089.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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