Atlas of light curves of space objects. Volume 6 (2019 – 2020)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Koshkin ◽  
L. Shakun ◽  
E. Korobeynikova ◽  
S. Strakhova ◽  
S. Melikyants ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Space Objects

Light curves of the artificial space objects (satellites and space debris bodies) were obtained using the KT-50 telescope (46.4778 N, 30.7557 E) equipped with a TV-CCD Watec-902H2.

scholarly journals Observations of Artificial Space Objects in Lviv Astronomical Observatory

2001 ◽  
Vol 196 ◽  
pp. 193-195
Author(s):  
Jeva Vovchyk ◽  
Jaroslav Blagodyr ◽  
Olexandr Logvinenko
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Computer Data ◽  
Photometric Observations ◽  
Local Computer ◽  
Space Objects

Space debris is the price which humankind must pay for entering space. And as this debris is dangerous in different ways, there must be ways to identify, catalogue, and predict the positions of, these cosmic bodies. That is why it is necessary to observe all artificial cosmic objects that are in space. One way of observing debris is by photometry. Photometric observations give light-curves from which one may deduce information about the position in space, the form, size, and other parameters of the object. Since 1975 a research group at Lviv Astronomical Observatory has been working at the problem of recording light-curves of different artificial cosmic objects. Four electrophotometers were constructed and developed. Many light curves of different artificial objects were measured with these electrophotometers. All light curves are collected in the local computer data bank and are available for use by anybody who needs such information.

scholarly journals The Ad Hoc Back-End of the BIRALET Radar to Measure Slant-Range and Doppler Shift of Resident Space Objects

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 577
Author(s):  
Luca Schirru ◽  
Tonino Pisanu ◽  
Angelo Podda
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Shift ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Slant Range ◽  
Radar Systems ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Resident Space Objects ◽  
Potential Issue

Space debris is a term for all human-made objects orbiting the Earth or reentering the atmosphere. The population of space debris is continuously growing and it represents a potential issue for active satellites and spacecraft. New collisions and fragmentation could exponentially increase the amount of debris and so the level of risk represented by these objects. The principal technique used for the debris monitoring, in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) between 200 km and 2000 km of altitude, is based on radar systems. The BIRALET system represents one of the main Italian radars involved in resident space objects observations. It is a bi-static radar, which operates in the P-band at 410–415 MHz, that uses the Sardinia Radio Telescope as receiver. In this paper, a detailed description of the new ad hoc back-end developed for the BIRALET radar, with the aim to perform slant-range and Doppler shift measurements, is presented. The new system was successfully tested in several validation measurement campaigns, the results of which are reported and discussed.

scholarly journals Efficient n-to-n Collision Detection for Space Debris using 4D AABB Trees

10.29007/5pl1 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Bak ◽  
Kerianne Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Collision Detection ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Video Gaming ◽  
Time Dimension ◽  
Detection Algorithms ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Tree Data ◽  
Tree Data Structure ◽  
Three Space

Collision detection algorithms are used in aerospace, swarm robotics, automotive, video gaming, dynamics simulation and other domains. As many applications of collision detection run online, timing requirements are imposed on the algorithm runtime: algorithms must, at a minimum, keep up with the passage of time. Even offline reachability computation can be slowed down by the process of safety checking when n is large and the specification is n-to-n collision avoidance. In practice, this places a limit on the number of objects, n, that can be concurrently tracked or verified. In this paper, we present an improved method for efficient object tracking and collision detection, based on a modified version of the axis-aligned bounding-box (AABB) tree data structure. We consider 4D AABB Trees, where a time dimension is added to the usual three space dimensions, in order to enable per-object time steps when checking for collisions in space-time. We evaluate the approach on a space debris collision benchmark, demonstrating efficient checking beyond the full catalog of n = 16848 space objects made public by the U.S. Strategic Command on www.space-track.org.

Space Law and Hazardous Space Debris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Mejía-Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Manned Space ◽  
Space Activities ◽  
Debris Mitigation

International space law is a branch of public international law. Norms of treaty law and customary law provide a foundation for the behavior of the subjects of international law performing space activities. Five multilateral space treaties are in effect, which are complemented by important recommendations of international organizations such as United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolutions and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regulations. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Mitigation Coordination Committee (IADC), a non-governmental body composed of several space agencies (for instance, the European Space Agency, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the Russian Federal Space Agency), issued its Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines in 2002. The IADC defines “space debris” as “all man-made space objects including fragments and elements thereof, in Earth orbit or re-entering the atmosphere, that are non-functional” (IADC, 2002, Revision 1, 2007, 3.1. Space Debris). Although the term “space debris” was not included in any space treaty, the drafters of the space treaties considered space objects as “hazardous” because “component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicles and parts thereof” detach in course of normal launching operations, because space objects can fragment during an attempted launch, and because space objects that re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and survive friction have the potential to cause damage. In addition, radioactive and chemical substances on board space objects may represent a hazard to populations and the environment on the Earth. Besides the threats to aircraft in flight and to persons and property on the surface of the Earth, space debris in orbit is increasing alarmingly and poses a threat to manned space missions and non-manned space objects. While the Convention on International Liability for Damages Caused by Space Objects (Liability Convention, 1972) considers the threats of space objects during launch, in outer space, and when entering the Earth’s atmosphere, there have been efforts to minimize the generation of space debris in orbit, outside the framework of the space treaties. The IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines are a comprehensive list of recommendations to launching states, owners, and operators of space objects. They are increasingly recognized by states through the creation of codes of conduct, national legislation, recommendations of international organizations, and state practice. Furthermore, non-governmental institutions, like the International Organization for Standardization, are providing more detailed technical instructions for the implementation of the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, which are a breakthrough for the application of the guidelines by states of different economic and technical standing. Even though states are reluctant to accept new obligations through treaties, recommendations and state practice are becoming powerful instruments to avert the dangers of hazardous space debris that may create damage on the Earth or in orbit. Space debris also is becoming one of the drivers for the initiatives of the United Nations on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities to promote the existing mitigation guidelines and to formulate new guidelines for clearing outer space of debris.

International Liability for Commercial Space Activities and Related Issues of Debris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Morozova ◽  
Alena Laurenava
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Artificial Satellite ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
International Space ◽  
Space Law ◽  
Air Space ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Outer Space Treaty ◽  
International Liability ◽  
Space Activities

Space activities are technically sophisticated, challenging, and high risk endeavors. Notwithstanding precautionary measures that are taken by commercial operators, damage may be caused during space objects’ launching, passing through air space, in-orbit maneuvering and operating, and de-orbiting. The rules and procedures aimed at ensuring the prompt payment of a full and equitable compensation for such damage constitute the international liability regime, which is of crucial importance in space law. The first reference to international liability for damage caused by space objects and their component parts on the Earth, in air space, or in outer space, can be traced back to the very beginning of the space era. In 1963, just few years after the first ever artificial satellite was launched, international liability was declared by the UN General Assembly as one of the legal principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space. It was later made legally binding by inclusion in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and received further development in the 1972 Liability Convention. The latter is generally referred to as lex specialis when the interrelation between the two international treaties is described and introduces several provisions that treat liability for damage caused in specific circumstances somewhat differently. International space law imputes liability on states that launch or procure launchings of space objects and states from whose territory or facility space objects are launched. This does not, however, exclude liability for damage caused by space objects, which are operated by private entities. Still, international liability for accidents involving commercial operators stays with the so-called “launching states,” as this term is defined by the Liability Convention for the same states that are listed in the Outer Space Treaty as internationally liable. Insurance is well known to settle liability issues, including those arising from commercial launches, however, it is not always mandatory. Frequently, space-related accidents involve non-functional space objects and their component parts, which are usually referred to as space debris. This may include spent rocket stages and defunct satellites, as well as fragments from their disintegration. Since the non-functional state of a space object does not change its legal status, the relevant provisions of international space law that are applicable to space objects continue to apply to what is called “space debris.” This means, in particular, that launching states are internationally liable for damage caused by space debris, including cases where such debris was generated by private spacecraft. The probability of liability becomes even higher when it comes to active space debris removal. Such space activities, which are extensively developed by private companies, are inextricably linked to potential damage. Yet, practical problems arise with identification of space debris and, consequently, an efficient implementation of the liability regime.

scholarly journals Ranking in-orbit fragmentations and space objects

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (S310) ◽  
pp. 118-125
Author(s):  
Alessandro Rossi ◽  
Giovanni B. Valsecchi ◽  
Elisa Maria Alessi
Keyword(s):  
Parametric Study ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Long Term Evolution ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
Future Space ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Analytic Index

AbstractThe future space debris environment will be dominated by the production of fragments coming from massive fragmentations. In order to identify the most relevant parameters influencing the long term evolution of the environment and to assess the criticality of selected space objects in different regions of the circumterrestrial space, a large parametric study was performed. In this framework some indicators were produced to quantify and rank the relevance of selected fragmentations on the long term evolution of the space debris population. Based on the results of the fragmentation studies, a novel analytic index, the Criticality of Spacecraft Index, aimed at ranking the environmental criticality of abandoned objects in LEO, has been devised and tested on a sample population of orbiting objects.

scholarly journals OBSERVATIONS OF SPACE DEBRIS IN THE VICINITY OF ORBITS OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
Ivan Korobtsev ◽  
Tatyana Tsukker ◽  
Marina Mishina ◽  
Vladimir Goryashin ◽  
Maxim Eselevich
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite Systems ◽  
Optical Measurements ◽  
Navigation Satellite ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Global Navigation ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

The problem of the amount and characteristics of space debris in the vicinity of orbits of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is of significant interest from the viewpoint of safe operation of these systems. Attempts have repeatedly been made to search for space debris fragments in a given region of orbits, but have not led to cataloging such objects. Only in 2018, eight space objects were discovered which were not related to active or inactive spacecraft or their launch elements. Photometrical and trajectory observations with optical telescopes are practically the only source of information about characteristics of such objects. The paper presents a summary of the design features and technical characteristics of the new AZT-33VM telescope. We describe a technique for determining orbital parameters of non-cataloged space debris from optical measurements. We report the results of photometric observations of a space object, detected in the vicinity of orbits of the Global Navigation Satellite System GLONASS.

scholarly journals Strangeness of translational and rotational motion of the geosynchronous object 10294 according to optical observations

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Н.С. Бахтигараев
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Motion ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Abrupt Change ◽  
Libration Point ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Optical Observations ◽  
Characteristic Change ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Stable Orbit ◽  
The Republic

Представлены особенности изменения параметров движения геосинхронного объекта 10294 SIRIO-1 №1977-080A по результатам оптических наблюдений в обсерваториях в Звенигороде, на пике Терскол и на горе Санглох республики Таджикистан. Пассивный итальянский научный космический аппарат SIRIO-1 представляет интерес тем, что он описывает классическую восьмерку вокруг точки либрации 75 ◦ в.д. без дрейфа по долготе и всегда доступен наблюдениям с наших пунктов. Это дает возможность детально исследовать поступательно-вращательное движение объекта, используя только результаты своих измерений. SIRIO-1 наблюдался нами для проверки аппаратуры и программного обеспечения как тестовый объект с очень устойчивой орбитой. В 2018 г. у этого объекта были обнаружены изменения в движении и в кривых блеска, не свойственные космическому мусору. Были зафиксированы небольшое скачкообразное изменение орбиты между 7 и 11 марта 2018 г. и изменение коэффициента отношения площади миделевого сечения объекта к его массе; кроме того перестал надежно определяться период изменения блеска и появилось характерное изменение блеска на одном и том же участке траектории с периодом, примерно равным звездным суткам. The features of changes in the motion parameters of the geosynchronous object 10294 SIRIO-1 No.1977-080A based on the results of optical observations at the observatories in Zvenigorod, Terskol Peak and Sanglokh Mountain in the Republic of Tajikistan are presented. The passive Italian scientific spacecraft SIRIO-1 is of interest to us because it describes the classic eight around the libration point of 75 ◦ E without longitude drift and is always available to observations from our observation points. This makes it possible to study in detail the translational-rotational motion of the object, using only the results of their measurements. SIRIO-1 was observed by us to test the hardware and software as a test object with a very stable orbit. In 2018, this object was found to have changes in motion and in the light curves that are not characteristic to space debris. A small abrupt change in the orbit between March 7 and 11, 2018, and a change in the area-to-mass ratio of the object were recorded. In addition, the period of change in the brightness was no longer reliably determined, and a characteristic change in the brightness appeared on the same part of the trajectory with a period approximately equal to the sidereal day.

scholarly journals Development of the First Portuguese Radar Tracking Sensor for Space Debris

Signals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-137
Author(s):  
João Pandeirada ◽  
Miguel Bergano ◽  
João Neves ◽  
Paulo Marques ◽  
Domingos Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Digital Signal ◽  
Pulse Modulation ◽  
Radar Sensors ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Commercial Off The Shelf ◽  
Space Economy

Currently, space debris represents a threat for satellites and space-based operations, both in-orbit and during the launching process. The yearly increase in space debris represents a serious concern to major space agencies leading to the development of dedicated space programs to deal with this issue. Ground-based radars can detect Earth orbiting debris down to a few square centimeters and therefore constitute a major building block of a space debris monitoring system. New radar sensors are required in Europe to enhance capabilities and availability of its small radar network capable of tracking and surveying space objects and to respond to the debris increase expected from the New Space economy activities. This article presents ATLAS, a new tracking radar system for debris detection located in Portugal. It starts by an extensive technical description of all the system components followed by a study that estimates its future performance. A section dedicated to waveform design is also presented, since the system allows the usage of several types of pulse modulation schemes such as LFM and phase coded modulations while enabling the development and testing of more advanced ones. By presenting an architecture that is highly modular with fully digital signal processing, ATLAS establishes a platform for fast and easy development, research, and innovation. The system follows the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf technologies and Open Systems which is unique among current radar systems.

scholarly journals Detection and cataloging of space debris’ small-sized fragment of the 20th stellar magnitude

2020 ◽  
pp. 358-360
Author(s):  
Н.С. Бахтигараев ◽  
П.А. Левкина ◽  
А.В. Шеин
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Stellar Magnitude ◽  
Geosynchronous Orbit ◽  
Keldysh Institute ◽  
Brightness Change ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Phase Angles

На обсерватории Терскольского филиала ИНАСАН 24 сентября 2020 г. на комплексе телескопа Цейсс-2000 впервые был обнаружен и наблюдался в течение двух ночей фрагмент космического мусора 20-й звездной величины на геосинхронной орбите, что соответствует размерам менее 10 см. Объект был каталогизирован в динамической базе космических объектов ИПМ им. М.В. Келдыша под номером 71113. Топоцентрическое расстояние до фрагмента во время наблюдений менялось от 36862 км до 37224 км при фазовых углах от 53 ◦ до 68 ◦ , амплитуда изменения блеска объекта - от 19-й до 21-й звездной величины в интегральном свете. Приводятся параметры орбиты и диаграммы изменения блеска. On September 24, 2020, at the Terskol observatory of INASAN, a fragment of space debris’ of the 20th magnitude in geosynchronous orbit was first detected and observed for two nights using the Zeiss-2000 telescope, which corresponds to a size of less than 10 cm. The object was catalogued in the dynamic database of space objects of the Keldysh Institute of the RAS under the number 71113. The topocentric distance to the fragment during observations varied from 36862 km to 37224 km at phase angles from 53 ◦ to 68 ◦ . The object’s brightness ranged from the 19th to the 21st magnitude. The parameters of the orbit and the brightness change diagrams are given.

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