Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform

As the number of resident space objects (RSOs) orbiting Earth increases, the risk of collision increases, and mitigating this risk requires the detection, identification, characterization, and tracking of as many RSOs as possible in view at any given time, an area of research referred to as Space Si...

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Main Authors: Randa Qashoa, Vithurshan Suthakar, Gabriel Chianelli, Perushan Kunalakantha, Regina S. K. Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/749
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author Randa Qashoa
Vithurshan Suthakar
Gabriel Chianelli
Perushan Kunalakantha
Regina S. K. Lee
author_facet Randa Qashoa
Vithurshan Suthakar
Gabriel Chianelli
Perushan Kunalakantha
Regina S. K. Lee
author_sort Randa Qashoa
collection DOAJ
description As the number of resident space objects (RSOs) orbiting Earth increases, the risk of collision increases, and mitigating this risk requires the detection, identification, characterization, and tracking of as many RSOs as possible in view at any given time, an area of research referred to as Space Situational Awareness (SSA). In order to develop algorithms for RSO detection and characterization, starfield images containing RSOs are needed. Such images can be obtained from star trackers, which have traditionally been used for attitude determination. Despite their low resolution, star tracker images have the potential to be useful for SSA. Using star trackers in this dual-purpose manner offers the benefit of leveraging existing star tracker technology already in orbit, eliminating the need for new and costly equipment to be launched into space. In August 2022, we launched a CubeSat-class payload, Resident Space Object Near-space Astrometric Research (RSONAR), on a stratospheric balloon. The primary objective of the payload was to demonstrate a dual-purpose star tracker for imaging and analyzing RSOs from a space-like environment, aiding in the field of SSA. Building on the experience and lessons learned from the 2022 campaign, we developed a next-generation dual-purpose camera in a 4U-inspired CubeSat platform, named RSONAR II. This payload was successfully launched in August 2023. With the RSONAR II payload, we developed a real-time, multi-purpose imaging system with two main cameras of varying cost that can adjust imaging parameters in real-time to evaluate the effectiveness of each configuration for RSO imaging. We also performed onboard RSO detection and attitude determination to verify the performance of our algorithms. Additionally, we implemented a downlink capability to verify payload performance during flight. To add a wider variety of images for testing our algorithms, we altered the resolution of one of the cameras throughout the mission. In this paper, we demonstrate a dual-purpose star tracker system for future SSA missions and compare two different sensor options for RSO imaging.
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spelling doaj.art-fba6b9a2db9643868590d078cdf240e42024-03-12T16:53:53ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-02-0116574910.3390/rs16050749Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon PlatformRanda Qashoa0Vithurshan Suthakar1Gabriel Chianelli2Perushan Kunalakantha3Regina S. K. Lee4Department of Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaAs the number of resident space objects (RSOs) orbiting Earth increases, the risk of collision increases, and mitigating this risk requires the detection, identification, characterization, and tracking of as many RSOs as possible in view at any given time, an area of research referred to as Space Situational Awareness (SSA). In order to develop algorithms for RSO detection and characterization, starfield images containing RSOs are needed. Such images can be obtained from star trackers, which have traditionally been used for attitude determination. Despite their low resolution, star tracker images have the potential to be useful for SSA. Using star trackers in this dual-purpose manner offers the benefit of leveraging existing star tracker technology already in orbit, eliminating the need for new and costly equipment to be launched into space. In August 2022, we launched a CubeSat-class payload, Resident Space Object Near-space Astrometric Research (RSONAR), on a stratospheric balloon. The primary objective of the payload was to demonstrate a dual-purpose star tracker for imaging and analyzing RSOs from a space-like environment, aiding in the field of SSA. Building on the experience and lessons learned from the 2022 campaign, we developed a next-generation dual-purpose camera in a 4U-inspired CubeSat platform, named RSONAR II. This payload was successfully launched in August 2023. With the RSONAR II payload, we developed a real-time, multi-purpose imaging system with two main cameras of varying cost that can adjust imaging parameters in real-time to evaluate the effectiveness of each configuration for RSO imaging. We also performed onboard RSO detection and attitude determination to verify the performance of our algorithms. Additionally, we implemented a downlink capability to verify payload performance during flight. To add a wider variety of images for testing our algorithms, we altered the resolution of one of the cameras throughout the mission. In this paper, we demonstrate a dual-purpose star tracker system for future SSA missions and compare two different sensor options for RSO imaging.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/749Space Situational Awareness (SSA)resident space objects (RSOs)commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)stratospheric balloonstar tracker
spellingShingle Randa Qashoa
Vithurshan Suthakar
Gabriel Chianelli
Perushan Kunalakantha
Regina S. K. Lee
Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
Remote Sensing
Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
resident space objects (RSOs)
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
stratospheric balloon
star tracker
title Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
title_full Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
title_fullStr Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
title_full_unstemmed Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
title_short Technology Demonstration of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Mission on Stratospheric Balloon Platform
title_sort technology demonstration of space situational awareness ssa mission on stratospheric balloon platform
topic Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
resident space objects (RSOs)
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
stratospheric balloon
star tracker
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/5/749
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