NESS: A Dual-Use Microsatellite for Asteroid Detection/Tracking, and Satellite Tracking R and D

Abstract

The Near Earth Space Surveillance (NESS) mission is being developed by Dynacon and a team of asteroid scientists, supported by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Defence R and D Canada (DRDC). NESS uses a single satellite to perform a dual mission: searching for and tracking Earth-approaching asteroids, and tracking satellites in Earth orbit. There are aspects of both of these activities that are best accomplished using an orbiting observatory. The concept presented here is to implement NESS using a small imaging telescope mounted on a low-cost microsatellite-class platform, based on the design developed for the MOST stellar photometry microsatellite mission.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 03, 2001
Accession Number
ADA400709

Entities

People

  • Alan R. Hildebrand
  • Kieran A. Carroll

Organizations

  • University of Calgary

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Control Systems
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Earth Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Microsatellites
  • Observatories
  • Optical Detectors
  • Orbits
  • Small Satellites
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Panels
  • Solar System
  • Space Objects
  • Space Surveillance

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects