Angles and Range: Initial Orbital Determination with the Air Force Space Surveillance Telescope (AFSST)
Abstract : The institution of a robust, comprehensive program of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) necessarily includes observations by ground-based optical and infrared (OIR) telescopes. The Air Force Space Surveillance Telescope (AFSST) has been proposed as a system of telescopes designed to address the ground-based component of comprehensive SSA. A hallmark of our definition of AFSST is that it be composed of inexpensive, replicable telescopes programmed to accomplish multiple surveillance programs, but designed to achieve the difficult design-driving task of accomplishing an uncued search for small objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). We discuss the configuration of AFSST and describe one technique by which AFSST simultaneously acquires angle and range data for accurate real-time determination of LEO orbital elements, even upon first detection of the object.
The Fundamental Role of Wide-Field Imaging in Space Situational Awareness
National Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is fundamentally based upon surveillance of the variety of anthropogenic and natural objects moving in Earth Orbital Space (EOS): functioning satellites, derelicts, space debris, and naturally occurring objects. We define Earth Orbital Space is thus defined as the volume of space centered on the Earth within which Earth’s gravitational potential affects the orbit (open or closed) of an object. Optical telescopes provide a significant fraction of all data for the surveillance of space, and virtually all data on GEO and related objects. Starting with an operational definition of surveillance of space (SoS), we discuss: • The unique role of wide-field imaging in acquiring EOS surveillance data • Detector-driven optical design of small, wide-field telescopes that produce data capable of providing high signal-to-noise images and tracks in the presence of detector and complicated background noise • Multiple sky tracking and detector readout combinations to optimize object detection from LEO through GEO • The approach to real-time image data processing capable of enabling immediate analysis and decisionmaking, as required. Specifically, we describe the fundamental physics associated with the design of optical surveillance cameras based upon small aperture, wide field-of-view telescopes which we have designed. Critical performance issues include uncued detection of new and/or un-cataloged objects to faint limiting magnitudes (V > 14 at LEO), including initial trajectory determination, and the capability to survey large areas of the sky (such as the CONUS GEO belt of approximately 1800 sq. degrees) to faint limiting magnitudes (V ~ 18) every two hours. The goal is to convert these data into actionable information in very near real-time. Initial data demonstrating and supporting our surveillance of space system designs and design goals are presented.
Research on automatic tracking solar power system
The paper elaborates the features of solar power. On the foundation of it, it analyses the composing, the theory and the features of solar power system of automatic tracking, analyzing the function of mental composing and the important technology, making a compartment of the amount of generation of solar power system of automatic tracking and that of common solar power system.