Fundamental Limitations for Imaging GEO Satellites

Abstract

We investigate the issue of whether an optical interferometer with baselines long enough to resolve details of a geostationary satellite can be phase stabilized. We conclude that it is possible to phase such an interferometer with shorter baselines using the techniques of baseline and wavelength bootstrapping, and that these shorter baselines are not so short as to make the instrument impractical. We conclude by showing the trade-off between the number of telescopes needed to phase the longest desired baselines and the diameter of those telescopes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 18, 2015
Accession Number
AD1001983

Entities

People

  • David Mozurkewich
  • H. R. Schmitt
  • J. T. Armstrong

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Adaptive Optics
  • Amplitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Frequency
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • High Resolution
  • Interferometers
  • Line Of Sight
  • Linear Arrays
  • Measurement
  • Optics
  • Phase Measurement
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Strehl Ratio

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space