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Observations of Space Debris1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

L. G. Taff
L. G. Taff*
Affiliation:
Lincoln Laboratory, M.I.T., Lexington, MA 02173-0073U.S.A.

Abstract

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Optical observations of near Earth and deep-space debris conducted at M.I.T.’s artificial satellite observatory will be discussed. A brief review of observing technique, regions of high debris density, and amount of debris in orbit will be given. The unique, duplex facilities of the observatory allow the discrimination of debris from meteors, the construction of an orbital element set, and real-time identification of cataloged artificial satellites. Near-Earth debris is present in large numbers in all the popular near-Earth orbits; at least 5-6 times the 5000-6000 objects in the NORAD catalog. In deep-space, the new presence of Ariane-related debris adds significantly to the existing population which is treble that cataloged by NORAD.

Type
Space Debris
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 112: Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris , 1991 , pp. 153 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1991

Footnotes

2.

Now at Space Telescope Science Institute operated by AURA, Inc. for NASA

1.

This work sponsored by NASA under contract NAS-9-17138.

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