An Improved Range-Searching Initial Orbit-Determination Method and Correlation of Optical Observations for Space Debris

Abstract

The Changchun Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory are used to generate very short arc (VSA) angle observations of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) with their ground-based electrical–optical telescope arrays (EA), the Changchun EA and SAO FocusGEO, respectively. These observations are used in this paper. The range-searching (RS) algorithm for initial orbit determination (IOD) is improved through the multiple combinations of observations and the dynamic range-searching step length. Two different computation modes (the normal mode and the refining mode) of the IOD computation process are proposed. The geometrical method for the association is used. The IOD and association methods are extended to the real optical observations for both LEO and GEO objects. The results show that the IOD success rate of arcs from the LEO objects is about 91%, the error of the semimajor axis (SMA) of the initial orbital elements is less than 50 km, and the correlation accuracy rate is about 89%. The IOD success rate of arcs from the GEO objects is higher than 88%, and the correlation accuracy rate is greater than 87%. The recent COSMOS 1408 antisatellite test (ASAT) generated a large amount of debris. The algorithm of this paper and the observations of Changchun EA are used to initially identify new debris, possibly from the ASAT through initial orbit determination and track association. Finally, 64 suspected new pieces of debris can be found. The results show the effectiveness of the IOD and the correlation algorithm, as well as the potential application of the optical–electrical array in studying space events.

Editorial for Special Issue: Recent Advances in Space Debris

“…Observations can be performed both from large ground facilities and via distributed in-orbit systems. In [5], the authors provide an improved method for determining the orbital parameters of space objects obtained via very short arc observations from a ground telescope; it is shown that this method has a high success rate and can be employed for the rapid assessment of fragmentation events. With respect to in situ observation, in [6], a model for designing and assessing the efficiency of a constellation for space debris observation is presented; through long-term continuous observation, these constellations could maintain an orbit catalogue of the majority of the objects in LEO, and they could also provide up-to-date information for space situational awareness.…”