Three-Dimensional Imaging and Satellite Attitude Estimation Using Pulse Laser Illumination and a Remote Ultra-Low Light Imaging (RULLI) Sensor for Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Abstract

The remarkable temporal resolution of the Remote Ultra-Low Light Imaging (RULLI) sensor developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory has led to interest in exploiting this capability to perform 3-D imaging of satellites for improved Space Situational Awareness (SSA). Such a system would require a pulsed laser illuminator combined with an adaptive optics system. We have developed a simulation of such a system and present a discussion of the model and preliminary results. These results show that 3-D imaging is a potentially powerful tool for understanding the orientation and configuration of satellites.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA532028

Entities

People

  • David C. Thompson
  • Kim Luu
  • Kris Hamada
  • L. W. Bradford
  • Michael C. Roggemann
  • Randy F. Cortez
  • Robert Shirey
  • Venkata S. Rao-gudimetla

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptive Optics
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Illumination
  • Information Operations
  • Lasers
  • Military Research
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Pulsed Lasers
  • Satellite Orientation
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Surveillance
  • Surveillance
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects