An Optical Scanning Search for GEO Debris

Abstract

A geostationary orbit (GEO) is invaluable to communications, broadcasting, and so on. The number of space debris near GEO is growing, as is the amount of geostationary satellites. Surveys and orbit-determinations of GEO debris are necessary to avoid collisions with satellites (Arimoto et al., 1994). Up until now, the U.S. and Rnssia have taken the initiative in surveillance (National Research Council, 1995). In Japan, two high-resolution telescopes are being constructed to detect small unknown objects (Isobe et al., 1999). Many currently unknown debris will soon be discovered. Concerns exist about the operating expense associated with the detection and the orbit determination. A broad, systematic, and efficient method to search for debris is designed in this paper. To confirm the validity of the method, test observations were made using a telescope in our laboratory, CRL. Let the three aims be further specified. A broad search is performed by scanning GEO. To do a systematic search, surveyed ranges should be sorted according to orbital elements. Logging the surveyed regions of the horizontal coordinates is not vital. An efficient search is considered to be reduce the number of observations. We know that at least two night observations are necessary to accurately determine the orbit of GEO debris (Kawase, 2000). So, the same objects must be detected on two nights. A fixed point is observed in the equatorial-celestial coordinates in two or three nights.