Session
Session V: Orbital Debris, SSA & STM
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper demonstrates the concept of space debris detection using star trackers. Arcsec’s Sagitta star tracker is an optical sensor designed to determine spacecraft attitude based on captured star images. The Sagitta star tracker processes these images to extract bright regions, which are then compared to an on-board star database. This functionality can also be extended to detect and track space debris passing through the sensor’s field of view. Typical star trackers discard any bright objects that are not matched to their star database. With addition of Debris Detection Using Star Trackers (DeDUST) algorithm, Sagitta can isolate these observations. Star tracker observations of space debris can be used for orbit determination, allowing for conjunction analysis or intelligence gathering. The Sagitta star tracker can concurrently perform attitude determination at 10 Hz while running the DeDUST algorithm to obtain precise angular measurements of objects passing through the field of view. These observations are later downlinked for orbit determination. Implementing space debris detection and tracking on star trackers, which are present on the majority of satellites, allows for a vast increase in space situational awareness (SSA) without the need to launch dedicated space-based sensors. The concept is proven to work on a Sagitta star tracker mounted on the Mercator observatory in La Palma, by observing space objects, determining their orbits, and matching them to known object catalogs.
Debris Detection Using Star Tracker Concept Verification
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper demonstrates the concept of space debris detection using star trackers. Arcsec’s Sagitta star tracker is an optical sensor designed to determine spacecraft attitude based on captured star images. The Sagitta star tracker processes these images to extract bright regions, which are then compared to an on-board star database. This functionality can also be extended to detect and track space debris passing through the sensor’s field of view. Typical star trackers discard any bright objects that are not matched to their star database. With addition of Debris Detection Using Star Trackers (DeDUST) algorithm, Sagitta can isolate these observations. Star tracker observations of space debris can be used for orbit determination, allowing for conjunction analysis or intelligence gathering. The Sagitta star tracker can concurrently perform attitude determination at 10 Hz while running the DeDUST algorithm to obtain precise angular measurements of objects passing through the field of view. These observations are later downlinked for orbit determination. Implementing space debris detection and tracking on star trackers, which are present on the majority of satellites, allows for a vast increase in space situational awareness (SSA) without the need to launch dedicated space-based sensors. The concept is proven to work on a Sagitta star tracker mounted on the Mercator observatory in La Palma, by observing space objects, determining their orbits, and matching them to known object catalogs.
