Detection of Small LEO Debris with Line Detection Method

Abstract

This paper proposes a new method known as “the line detection method” to detect small pieces of low Earth orbit (LEO) debris. A direction is assumed for the line created by small LEO debris on a CCD image and the values of pixels along that direction are accumulated to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. This method can detect LEO debris that is 30 to 40 times darker than debris that can be detected by usual methods. We tested this method by using the 35-cm telescope and back-illuminated CCD camera at the Mt. Nyukasa Astronomical Observatory. One small piece of LEO debris with a radar cross section of 0.0047 m2 was detected. By using this method, the 1-m telescope and back-illuminated wide-field camera at the Bisei Spaceguard Center (BSGC) are expected to be able to detect LEO debris with a size of a few cm. The line detection method will be used to probe the LEO small debris environment and contribute to solving the space debris problem.