Feasibility of Gathering Resident Space Object Range Measurements Using In-Orbit Observers

Abstract

An accurate knowledge of the satellites, space debris, and other objects orbiting Earth is critical to mission planning and avoiding on-orbit collisions. Numerous ground and space-based space situational awareness platforms have been developed to aid in the identification and tracking of these objects, collectively known as resident space objects. While space situational awareness satellites are ideal for identifying and tracking space debris, many other satellites have sensors that may be able to contribute to space situational awareness. This paper examines the feasibility of leveraging several existing sensor technologies to aid in identifying and tracking resident space objects. Specifically, we investigate how Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs), laser rangefinders, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices, and laser communication devices can provide range measurements between the observing platform and the resident space object. Based on this survey, we believe that investigating the feasibility of utilizing LIDAR devices for RSO ranging is worth further study.