Slovakian Optical Sensor for HAMR Objects Cataloguing and Research

Paper number

IAC-18,A6,IP,6,x44746

Author

Dr. Jiri Silha, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Stanislav Krajčovič, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Dr. Juraj Tóth, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Dr. Leonard Kornoš, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Dr. Jozef Világi, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Pavol Zigo, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Jaroslav Šimon, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Dušan Kalmančok, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Michal Hamara, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Ms. Danica Zilkova, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Ladislav Novak, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Matej Zigo, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Dr. Frantisek Duris, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Mr. Viktor Nagy, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Prof. Roman Durikovič, Slovak Republic, Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava, Slovakia

Coauthor

Prof. Thomas Schildknecht, Switzerland, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB) / SwissSpace Association

Coauthor

Dr. Emiliano Cordelli, Switzerland, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB)

Coauthor

Dr. Alessandro Vananti, Switzerland, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB)

Coauthor

Mr. Christophe Paccolat, Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Space Center (SSC)

Coauthor

Mr. Abdul Rachman, Switzerland, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB)

Coauthor

Ms. Harleen Kaur Mann, Switzerland, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB)

Coauthor

Dr. Maite Trujillo, The Netherlands, European Space Agency (ESA)

Coauthor

Dr. Tim Flohrer, Germany, European Space Agency (ESA)

Year

2018

Abstract

In 2015 Slovakia became the 9th ESA European Cooperative State and the first calls were announced by ESA for the Plan for European Cooperating State (PECS). Within this call the Department of astronomy which is part of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (FMPI CU) won an activity with a main goal to transform a 0.7-m Newton telescope (AGO70) dedicated to amateur astronomical observations to a professional optical system for regular support of the space debris tracking and research. This transformation includes the necessary H/W and S/W modifications. The presented activity is performed in cooperation with the Astronomical Institute of University of Bern (AIUB) and the foreseen end of activity is summer 2018.
The AGO70 has been installed at the FMPI’s Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra, Slovakia (AGO) in fall 2016. There are several objectives to be accomplished within the activity. It was necessary to adapt the low-level telescope control to the needs of space debris tracking. For the image processing software we have chosen a modular design. It contains several individual elements performing tasks such as objects search on the frames, centroiding, astrometric reduction and tracklet building. The observation planning has been developed according to the AGO70 system’s H/W limitations with focus on GEO, GTO and GNSS like orbits. The output products delivered by the system are astrometric positions in international formats (CCSDS TDM and MPC), light curves and relative color indices obtained by using Johnson-Cousins BVRI filters. To proof the system capabilities, the whole activity is concluded with an observation campaign measuring AIUB’s HAMR (High-Area-to-Mass-Ratio) objects and public TLE objects. The quality of the system’s products is monitored by the AIUB via its state-of-the-art epoch bias and astrometric accuracy analysis routines. 
In this work we describe the AGO70 system’s parameters before and after H/W and S/W modifications are performed. We will discuss our modular image processing pipeline and its components and their validation. We will also present the adapted observation planning, as well the detail description of the system’s products. We will analyze the results of the observations campaign performed for several HAMR and GEO/GTO objects with a focus on the orbit determination (orbital elements and their change over time), the light curve analysis (apparent period extraction and change over time) and the description of surface properties trough the relative color indices.

Abstract document

IAC-18,A6,IP,6,x44746.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,A6,IP,6,x44746.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.