Artificial Satellites, Minor Planets, and the ETS.

Abstract

This report summarizes the successful modification of Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test System hardware and software for the detection and discrimination of asteroids rather than artificial satellites. The minor planets are found by exploiting their proper motion and the limiting magnitude is roughly brightness magnitude = 17.5. The complete observing cycle, including the 2 - 3 sec. measurement of position, requires about four minutes at present. The commonality of asteroids and artificial satellite observing, searching, data reduction, orbital analysis, and lightcurve analysis is stressed. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 26, 1980
Accession Number
ADA089823

Entities

People

  • David E. Beatty
  • John M. Sorvari
  • Laurence G. Taff

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Camera Tubes
  • Cameras
  • Delay Lines
  • Detection
  • Ephemerides
  • Image Processing
  • Orbital Elements
  • Processing Equipment
  • Recording Systems
  • Standards
  • Tape Recorders
  • Tape Recording
  • Tapes
  • Telescopes
  • Video Tape Recording
  • Video Tapes

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Space Objects