Accurate orbit predictions for debris orbit manoeuvre using ground-based lasers

作者：Bennett J C^*; Sang J; Smith C H; Zhang K

来源：Advances in Space Research, 2013, 52(11): 1876-1887.

DOI：10.1016/j.asr.2013.08.029

• Space debris
• Laser orbit manoeuvre
• Orbit determination and prediction
• Ballistic coefficient
• TLE

Orbit manoeuvre of low Earth orbiting (LEO) debris using ground-based lasers has been proposed as a cost-effective means to avoid debris collisions. This requires the orbit of the debris object to be determined and predicted accurately so that the laser beam can be locked on the debris without the loss of valuable laser operation time. This paper presents the method and results of a short-term accurate LEO (<900 km in altitude) debris orbit prediction study using sparse laser ranging data collected by the EOS Space Debris Tracking System (SDTS). A main development is the estimation of the ballistic coefficients of the LEO objects from their archived long-term two line elements (TLE). When an object is laser tracked for two passes over about 24 h, orbit prediction (OP) accuracy of 10-20 arc seconds for the next 24-48 h can be achieved - the accuracy required for laser debris manoeuvre. The improvements in debris OP accuracy are significant in other applications such as debris conjunction analyses and the realisation of daytime debris laser tracking.

• 出版日期2013-12-1
• 单位武汉大学