scholarly journals Can Satellite Mega-constellations Justify Their Impact on Astronomy?

Author(s):  
Sai Charan Petchetti

Near-earth space is being increasingly commercialised by private space companies. This has many consequences for science, particularly, astronomy. Some estimates show that more than 100,000 satellites may orbit the Earth by 2030. Satellite mega-constellations for satellite Internet connectivity are one of the main drivers behind the explosion in the number of satellites. Here, we briefly note whether such satellite mega-constellations can justify their impact on astronomy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sai Charan Petchetti

Near-earth space is being increasingly commercialised by private space companies. This has many consequences for science, particularly, astronomy. Some estimates show that more than 100,000 satellites may orbit the Earth by 2030. Satellite mega-constellations for satellite Internet connectivity are one of the main drivers behind the explosion in the number of satellites. Here, we note whether such satellite mega-constellations can justify their impact on astronomy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-131
Author(s):  
O.O. Tsareva ◽  
V.Yu. Popov ◽  
H.V. Malova ◽  
E.P. Popova ◽  
M.V. Podzolko ◽  
...  

Recent observations, such as the magnetic field strength decrease, a magnetic poles shifts and the South Atlantic anomaly increase, may indicate the beginning of the Earth’s magnetic field inversion. According to the geomagnetic dynamo model, the dipole component of the magnetic field is zeroed at the inversion time, and the quadrupole one becomes dominant. To assess the occurrence of radiation hazards on the Earth’s surface and in near-Earth space at the time of magnetic field inversion, a numerical model was developed that made it possible to compare the GCR and SCR fluxes (at minima and maxima of solar activity) penetrating the Earth (taking into account the atmosphere) and the ISS in periods of the dipole and quadrupole fields dominance. It was found that during the period of inversion the flow of GCR (high-energy particles) can increase no more than three times over the entire surface of the Earth and the radiation dose will not exceed permissible one for man. Also, a change of the magnetic field configuration will redistribute areas of increased radiation on the Earth’s surface (today these are the poles of the Earth), which can adversely affect people’s health in these areas.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Суздалева ◽  
A. Suzdaleva

Intensive development of Near-Earth Space is accompanied by its microbiological contamination. Viable bacteria have been already detected on external structures of the International Space Station. A thin gaseous envelope and a layer of organic deposits are formed around a manned spacecraft. They can serve as a substrate for the evolution of some forms of microorganisms. As a result, the simplest natural-technical system is emerged in the near-Earth space. Biological objects can penetrate this system from the Earth’s atmosphere, or as gas leakage from the manned spacecrafts. In the nearest future the number of orbital space stations will increase many times. Some of them will be created by private firms for the purpose of space tourism development. Between the orbital stations and the Earth will be a constant transport of large numbers of people and cargos. Together with them microscopic biological objects will move in both directions. As a result of this, the natural-technical systems of space vehicles will integrate in the global natural-technical system — biotechnosphere. New strains of microorganisms which are hazardous to human may occur in the near-Earth space. The exploitation of a large number of manned stations in the Space hypothetically creates conditions for the penetration of alien life forms to the Earth. For timely identification of such threats it has been proposed to create an interdisciplinary scientific research complex. Its purpose is monitoring the appearance of new organisms at all stages of their movement from the near-Earth space to the Earth. Special attention should be paid to the study of biological objects detected on the Earth in areas hardly suitable for terrestrial microorganisms, for example, in different technological environments or clusters of toxic waste.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2103 (1) ◽  
pp. 012027
Author(s):  
S N Petrova ◽  
A V Devyatkin ◽  
D L Gorshanov ◽  
V N L’vov ◽  
S A Rusov

Abstract In the frame of this study astrometric observations of an unusual object 2020 SO - a newly discovered asteroid that turned out to be a Centaur upper-stage booster from 1960s - during its two close approaches to the Earth in December, 2020 and February, 2021 were carried out using two telescopes of Pulkovo observatory. The orbit of the object in question was determined and its future orbital evolution was modelled.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (H16) ◽  
pp. 486-487
Author(s):  
A. Shulga ◽  
Y. Kozyryev ◽  
Y. Sybiryakova ◽  
Z. Tang ◽  
Y. Mao ◽  
...  

AbstractThe joint observations of space debris are conducted by NAO and SHAO. The main task of observations is precise estimation of the hazard collisions of SD with operating satellites. Observations of the near earth asteroids (NEA) on the distance of less than 0.05 AU, according to the NEODyS program, are conducted in NAO. The main task is to obtain the large number of precise observations of the NEAs during their closest approach to the Earth.


Author(s):  
I.S. Grigoriev ◽  
A.I Proskuryakov

The paper considers the idea of reducing near-Earth space debris by discarding expended stages into the Earth’s atmosphere. The problem of optimizing the pulsed flight between the reference circular orbit of an artificial Earth satellite and the target elliptical orbit with a phase restriction on the maximum distance of the spacecraft from the Earth has been solved. Derivatives under the transversality of Lagrange principle in the process of solving are calculated by means of a specially developed technology of numerical-analytical differentiation. The first part of the paper introduces the statement and formalization of the problem. The second part of the paper studies the conditions for the optimality of Lagrange principle, analyses them and compares the findings obtained with the previously known results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-138
Author(s):  
Andrey Shugarov ◽  
Boris Shustov ◽  
Sergey Naroenkov

Abstract Chelyabinsk event of Feb 15, 2013 clearly demonstrated that decameter sizeNear EarthObjects (NEO) should be considered as hazardous ones. Another important lesson is that bodies approaching the Earth from day sky could not be discovered by any ground-based or near Earth space telescopes and the only way to detect these bodies reasonably well beforehand is to put the telescope(s) relatively far fromthe Earth.We proposed the project of space system SODA (System of Observation of Day-time Asteroids) for exhaustive detection of decameter (and larger) bodies approaching the Earth from the Sun direction (Chelyabinsk type meteoroids). The medium-size (30 cm) wide field telescopes are to be put into vicinity of L1 (Earth-Sun) point. Observations will be performed in barrier mode. Two options are considered: single spacecraft (SC) or pair of SCs. We describe major constituents and options of the project. The entire project could be implemented with off-shelf components and fits to low-cost project requirements. Special attention is paid to accuracy of orbit of the NEO. In a variant of two SCs capable to perform observation in triangulation mode accuracy of atmosphere entry point for Chelyabinsk-like body could be as high as few tens of kilometers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gali Garipov ◽  
Mikhail Panasyuk ◽  
Sergey Svertilov ◽  
Ivan Konyukhov ◽  
Sergey Pogosyan ◽  
...  

<p>The aim of the researches is detecting and exploration of microorganisms of Terrestrial and Cosmic origin.</p> <p>Microorganisms are supposed to be studied in the near-earth space on space objects of manmade origin and on the space bodies of Solar system in the extraterrestrial space, including   planets.</p> <p>For research, it is proposed to use the properties of microorganisms to emit a fluorescent glow when they irradiated with flashes of light causing their fluorescence.</p> <p>One of the research tasks is to search for terrestrial microorganisms that have occurred in space from Earth, as well as research of the survival of the terrestrial microorganisms in space conditions which shall be placed in special laboratories on board of the microsatellites on the Earth.</p> <p>The second task is to search for microorganisms on space bodies in interplanetary space by remote sensing of the surface of space bodies by flashes of light.</p> <p>To solve the first problem of this work is considered an example of a micro-laboratory for the study of terrestrial microorganisms located in space conditions in near-earth space on microsatellites.</p> <p> To solve the second problem, is considered an example of remote sensing equipment of space objects for searching for microorganisms on space bodies in interplanetary space which is installed on board of microsatellite created for far space exploration.</p> <p>Concerning to the first task it is shown that in automatic laboratories on microsatellites, it is possible to study the dynamics of microorganisms survival in space in conditions with a fixed habitat similar to earth's and in a changing environment that adequate the entry of microorganisms into open space and return them back to the earth conditions.</p> <p>Concerning to the second task it is shown that colonies of microorganisms on the surface of space bodies can be detected and studied from the orbits of their artificial satellites or from flight path trajectories near the space body at distances in order 200 km, and single microorganisms can be detected and studied at distances in order hundreds of meters</p>


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
O.F. Tyrnov ◽  
◽  
Yu.P. Fedorenko ◽  
L.F. Chernogor ◽  
◽  
...  

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