Plans for development of Pulkovo cooperation ofoptical observers

I.E. Molotov 2'3'4'Keldysh Institute ofApplied Mathematics, RAS, molotovgkiaml .rssi.ru

Miusskaja sq. 4, Moscow, 125047, Russia2 JSC "Vimpel" International Corporation, molotovgvimpel.ru

4thstreet of 8 Marta 3, Moscow, 125319, Russia3Central (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory, RAS, im62gmail.ru

Pulkovskoe chaussee 65/1, St.-Petersburg, 196140, Russia4Central Scientific-Research Institute of Machine-Building, tigricisggmail.com

Pionerskaya street 4, Korolev, Moscow region, 141070, Russia

Abstract-The works on new optical network creation were INTAS grant ref. no. 2001-0669 "Optical and radar ecologicalstarted in 2001. After few stages of modernization, Pulkovo monitoring of near-Earth space environment for the control ofcooperation [1] collaborates with the 11 observatories of the technogenic pollution and natural hazard assessment due toFormer Soviet Union (FSU) to conduct out the observations asteroids". In the same time the first structures of a futureof space debris. About 90,000 measurements for space network were organized - the operational group for planning ofobjects along the GEO arc of 340.90 allowed to find 288 the observations and ephemerides computations as well as forunknown GEO objects and to fix their orbital elements. the processing of the obtained measurements, and the technicalThe plans for development on 2007-2008 include the team to provide a necessary support of the network

upgrade of the existing telescopes and producing of series observatories, to develop the dedicated software and technicalof the telescopes dedicated for fast surveillance. Few solutions, and to arrange the training courses for a staff ofspecialized subsystems for observations of space objects observatories.with different size and orbits will be arranged - for the In 2004, the program of the refurbishing and modernizationcataloguing of the bright objects at GEO and HEO orbits, of the 8 telescopes for the creation of the Pulkovo cooperationfor searching and tracking of faint objects and for the more of optical observers (PulCOO) was elaborated and twoprecise orbit determination of LEO objects. connected grant proposals were submitted in the International

Association for the Promotion of Co-operation with ScientistsI. INTRODUCTION from the New Independent States of the FSU (INTAS) and the

The works on creation of new optical network for space Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.debris observations were started in 2001 in order to support the Also three important events occasioned in 2004: (i) theprogram of the radar research of the high-orbit space objects Ussuriysk observatory on Far East joined to the project withwith the 6 cm transmitter of the 70-m antenna dish (RT-70) in 40-cm double Zeiss astrograph equipped with ST-6 CCDEvpatoria, Crimea of Ukraine [2]. camera; (ii) trial searching observations of the faint spaceThe first GEO object observations aimed to improve the

efemerides of radar targets were carried out in April 2001 atPulkovo observatory using the 10-cm AKD telescope with ST-8 CCD-camera. In next years, three Ukrainian observatories inNauchnij, Mayaki and Goloseevo joined this activity using the64-cm AT-64 telescope with ST-8 CCD-camera, 30-cmtelescope RC-300 with TV-tube and 40-cm double Zeissastrograph with photo plates [3]. AT-64 (see Fig. 1) havingRichter-Slefogt system (D=640 mm, F=900 mm) is veryacceptable for surveillance work thank to large field of view

The work on identifying the present condition of all optical

observatories of the former Soviet Union and negotiations forI_ _possibility of their participation in the project of scientificl _network was performed in 2002-2003 with support of the

Fig. 1. 64-cm telescope AT-64 in Nauchnij, Crimea.

1-4244-1057-6/07/$25.00 ©)2007 IEEE. 208

objects at Geostationary region allowed to detect first debrisfragments and track its orbit on long-term intervals; (iii) thefirst dedicated surveillance telescope SRT-220 was produced inthe Crimean laboratory of the Stenberg state astronomicalinstitute for Pulkovo observatory with support INTAS grant2001-0669. SRT-220 (see Fig. 2) having Richter-Slefogt-Terebizh system (D=220 mm, F=507 mm) [4] is able to realizea FOV of 5 degree in diameter and limiting sensitivity aboutmagnitude 15 with 10 s exposure.

In end of 2004 both grant proposals were accepted under theprogram of "Recovering the NIS optical telescope cooperationfor coordinated observations of non-stationary and transientspace objects" (grant ref. no. 03-70-567 and project no.09.255.52/053) and history of the PulCOO was began.

II. FIRST Two YEARS OF PULCOO PROJECT

In first turn, the some groundwork was fulfilled: (i) the Fig. 3. 2.6-m telescope ZTSh inNauchnij, Crimea.international producers of the CCD-cameras were analyzed each were fulfilled in 2005 and 2006; (ii) producing of the 60-from point of view of a cost/quality ratio and the Finger Lakes cm tere RCl6005 ak i prorycng odessa,Instrumentation (FLI) was chosen; (ii) the existing software cm telescope RC-600 for Mayaki observatory near Odessa,complexes for CCD-frame reduction were investigated and which started the observations with IMG1001E in March,Apex II was developed as an universal software platform for 2006; (iii) joining of the Special Astrophysical Observatory inastronomical image processing [5]; an inexpensive solution of Zelenchuk, North Caucasus that provides periodic space debristhe precise time source was designed on base of the board of observations with the 1-m telescope Zeiss-1000.the Trimble Resolution T receiver of the GPS signals. So, the 7 PulCOO observatories participate in the spaceDuring two-year period, the 7 FLI CCD-cameras were debris researches: Pulkovo, Nauchnij, Mayaki, Abastumani,

purchased (two IMG6303E and five IMGIOOIE) and installed Zelenchuk, Maidanak, Ussuriysk in end of 2006. In additionat PulCOO telescopes together with the GPS-receivers and the Kitab, Tiraspol and Gissar jointed to the project in beginning ofApex II software. First IMGIOOIE was installed to the second 2007. The list of the PulCOO observatories with thelarger FSU telescope, the 2.6-m ZTSh (see Fig. 3) in Nauchnij characteristics ofthe telescopes involved is given in Table I.in February 2005 and it has since spent about 3-4 nights per The PulCOO observations activity was carried out in threemonth, around the new Moon, for space debris observations. main directions: (i) to support of the very long baselineThen the 60-cm telescope Zeiss-600 in Maidanak, Uzbekistan interferometry radar experiments with the Evpatoria RT-70and three 40-cm double Zeiss astrograph in Ussuriysk, FarEast, Abastumani, Georgia, and Kitab, Uzbekistan, were TABLE Iequipped with FLI IMG CCD-cameras. OBSERVATORIES AND TELESCOPES OF PULCOO IN 2006Next important steps were: (i) renewing of the relations with No Nameof Telescope CCD FOV m

Bolivian observatory in Tarija that were interrupted in 1990, ObservatoryIMG1001E was installed at the 23-cm expedition astrograph in 1 Pulkovo 22-cm RS-220 1lk1k, 24 2.802.80 14.5

..and two sets of space debris observations of 40 days 65-cm refract. 3kL3k, 12 12>12' 16.5Tarijaandtwosetsofspacedebrlsobservatlonsof40days 2 Nauchnij 2.6-mZTSh |lk*k, 24 8.4*88.4' 2164-cm AT-64 3kL2k, 9 1.7°*1.1° 18Zeiss-600 lk1k,24 18>-18' 17.522-cmRS-220 lkk, 24 18280 15.5

2 Mayaki 60-cmRC-600 1Ik4k24 lIl1| 1780-cm RC-800 In prodicing

3 Tiraspol 22-cm RS-220 1.641.2,7.4 1.20-10 14.54 Abastumani Zeiss-400 3kL2k, 9 35>25' 114.5_ Zelenchuk Zeiss-1000 4kL2k, 15 15'.7.5' 19

Zeiss-600 In modernization6 Maidanak 1.5-mAZT-22 4k.4k, 15 18'-18' 20

Zeiss-600 lk1k,24 11I-11' 17.5Zeiss-600 In modernization

7 Kitab Zeiss-400 lk. Ik, 24 30>'30O' 14.522-cm RS-220 In prodicing

8 Gissar 70-cm2A0ZT-8 lkIk,24 130>30' 19 Uss-uriys,k 50-cm RS'-500 In prodicingy

transmitter; (ii) to track the bright space objects at GEO for the It was found that many ofthe faint GEO objects have not onlygoal of the catalogue maintenance; (iii) to search and track the the unusual AMR value, but also a strange magnitude pattern.faint GEO and HEO fragments of the space debris in order toanalyze their orbital evolution and physical properties, toidentify the possible parent object and to estimate the level of The works on creation of the PulCOO subset from SRT-220their danger for operational satellites. The observations of the telescopes is in progress. The test surveys, arranged with thebight GEO objects are coordinated mainly by JSC "Vimpel" RST-220 in Pulkovo (Tracker) and Nauchnij (PH-1), displayedInternational Corporation. The research of the faint fragments the high performance of this telescope. Both telescopes arewas initiated and coordinated by the Center on Collection, equipped now with FLI CCD-cameras with KAF-1OOlE chipProcessing and Analysis of Information on Space Debris of 24.5 x 24.5 mm size and have a FOV 2.80 x 2.80. In one(CCISD) developed and operated on the basis of the Ballistic from the experiment with Tracker in March 28, 2007, the GEOCenter at the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics arc between 30°W and 80°E was surveyed; 1754(KIAM), Russian Academy of Sciences. In addition, the measurements in 253 objects series were obtained; 149PulCOO together with European observatories participated in catalogued GEO-objects, 16 known HEO-objects and 2observing campaign aimed at searching, detection and unknown space objects (one GEO and one HEO) weresubsequent tracking of the unknown GEO objects, detected. RMS residuals in right ascension and declinationsdetermination of their orbital parameters and orbital evolution were about 1.3 arcsec (see residuals in right ascensionestimation [6]. The consultations with the Norwegian company distribution in Fig. 4). PH-1 telescope was tested in October 14"CoronaSpace" are in a progress in order to provide the and November 9, 2006 on the sensitivity limitation andservices to the European spacecrafts operators. completeness of an objects discovering in an ordered sky area.Analysis of almost 90,000 measurements of the PulCOO The limit magnitude 15.8 was obtained with 10 s exposure (see

obtained on space objects along a GEO arc of 340.90 (between magnitude distribution of the measurements obtained in130.3°W and 210.6°E) jointly with data of the European November 9 in Fig. 5), 100% of the catalogued GEO objectsobservatories allowed to the CCISD to find the 288 unknown down to magnitude 15 and, partially, the high Earth orbitGEO objects [7]. The observation statistics for each PulCOO (HEO) objects, were detected in the sky areas of 200 x 200 andobservatory is presented in Table II. Results of the orbital 300 x 300 in a few hours of observation.determinations for the objects, which are absent in the public Two other RST-220 will be put in operation soon inorbital databases, are regularly published in the annual issues Ussuriysk and Tiraspol; two additional telescopes are inof the European Space Operation Centre (ESOC) producing in order to be installed in Kitab and western"Classification of Geosynchronous Objects" in the hemisphere, and three more telescopes will be ordered in the"Unidentified Objects" section [8]. next year for Europe, Siberia and Kamchatka. It is expectedThe level of the faint GEO fragment research has increased that this subset of the RST-220, which will be continuously

significantly, the growth of the discovery rate of fragments was surveying the GEO, will allow to maintain the catalogue of themostly due to the involvement of the second larger FSU bright GEO objects down to magnitude 15 since 2008. Alsotelescope, the ZTSh in Nauchnij. The participation of the experience obtained with PH-1 and Tracker displayed thatPulCOO telescopes, which obtained more than 20,000 RST-220 is the power tool for the bright HEO objectsmeasurements for fragments, allowed to turn from statistical observation after equipping with FLI PLO9000 CCD camera, itsurveys (carried of by the team of Astronomical Institute of the will have a FOV 4.20 x 4.20 with KAF-09000 chip of 24.5 xUniversity of Bern (AIUB) in 2001-2005 [9]) to tracking of the 24.5 mm size.fragments during long time intervals [10]. 63 faint objects were The second subset is intended for more efficient searchingobserved on time interval from several nights to two years that and tracking of the faint GEO objects with magnitudes 15-18.allowed to estimate their area to mass ratio (AMR) and toconfirm the existence of a population of 'GEO-like' objects 744having a significant area to mass ratio, which results in strong 700 948%-, 6Y%962% 9871' 98,3% 98;61 K9M% 100P,%-perturbations oftheir orbits due solar radiation influence [11]. 600 81|% _

QUANTITY OF OBSERVATION NIGHTS AND MEASUREMENTS OF PULCOO 400OBSERVATORIES IN 2006 878

300

No Name of Observatory Quantity ofNights Quantity of 224

Measurements g 2001 Pulkovo 56 5394 1110

2 Nauchnij 134 17574 39

4 Abastumani 43 3410 : 0.5 1 1.522 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5

5Zelenchuk 14 533 Residuals in Right Ascension (arcsec)

6 Maidanak 82 26037 Ussuriysk 111 4904 Fig. 4. Distribition of the residuals in right ascension ofthe Tracker8 Tarija 18 4045 measurements obtained in the GEO survey in March 28, 2007.

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(ii) searching of the uncatalogued fragments down to 18m (AT-64 and VT-40/500 telescopes with a FOV about 4 square

20 ------------ --------- --------- _degrees) and tracking of fragments (upgraded Zeiss-600, AZT-8, RC-600, RC-800, 26"-refractor, K-800), (iii) searching and

15 tracking of the LEO objects (16.6-cm optical cameras with aFOV of 200 in diameter). In addition, the cooperation of largetelescopes of the PulCOO and the partner observatories will be

10 ------------ ------------4----------------------------- ----- | -----l ---------T------------ a r n e o n i v s i a inohan rget on t10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~arrangedfor an investigation of the faint fragments down to21 (Zeiss-1000, AZT-22, AZT-331K, Zeiss-2000, ZTSh),The PulCOO news is regularly published in a dedicatedweb

site: www.lfvn.astronomer.ru. It is planned to publish the0 1 11 1 results of the faint fragment observations in a special monthly=: 10 11 1213 14 15 16 issue of the High Geocentric Orbit Space Debris Circular. This

Magnitudes (Stellar Values) publication must inform the world scientific community aboutFig. 5. Magnitude distribution of PH-1 measurements obtained in November 9. the status of the research, providing the most recent data for

each discovered object, including orbital parameters, estimatedIn addition to the AT-64 in Nauchnij, five 50-cm telescopes standard magnitude and estimated area-to-mass ratio.VT-40/500 (D=500 mm, F=1150 mm) with a FOV of 1.8°xl.8° IV. CONCLUSIONwith CCD chip of 36 x 36 mm size will be produced. First VT-40/500, which is under construction now, will be erected in An optical network, the PulCOO was arranged for spaceUssuriysk in the end of 2007. The geographic points in that debris research in the GEO region and the observations havemust be installed next 4 telescopes are analyzed - it may be been carried out on a regular basis since 2005. The obtainedSiberia, Uzhgorod (west of Ukraine), Europe and western data are open for scientific analysis; indeed, it was the firsthemisphere. The observatories in the Europe and western example of a measurement data exchange between FSU andhemisphere that can agree to install the VT-40/500 or RST-220 European observers on an operational basis. The orbitstelescopes for joint activities are inviting for consultations. determined for the bright GEO objects discovered are alreadyAlso few existing telescopes of 60-80 cm class will be included in the last three issues of the ESOC "Classification of

modernized: Ziess-600 in Simeiz, Zelenchuk, Maidanak and Geosynchronous Objects".Tarija, RC-600 in Mayaki, AZT-8 in Evpatoria and Gissar, K- The level of the faint GEO fragment research has increased800 in Terskol. In addition, new 80-cm telescope RC-800 is turn from statistical surveys (carried of by the AIUB team inunder construction for the Mayaki observatory. The 2001-2005) to tracking of the fragments during long timemodernization will include the automation of the pointing intervals. Now is first time when FSU telescopes participate insystem of telescopes and installation of the optical corrector in the dedicated IADC campaign to study the physical propertiesprimary focus instead of a secondary mirror to obtain a FOV of ofhigh AMR value objects.about 1°. The capability of the PulCOO will be increased step by step

Third subset will be created for the observations of the space in 2007-2008 in order to observe space debris at all Earthobjects at LEO and HEO. The 16.6-cm optical camera VT-53d orbits. The producing of the series of the dedicated 22-cm(D=140 mm, F=250 mm) with a FOV of 200 in diameter was telescopes SRT-220, 50-cm telescopes VT-40/500 and thedesigned recently. First 5 cameras will be ordered in the end of large field 16.6-cm optical cameras was started having the goal2007. It is evaluated that VT-53d will be an excellent tool for to arrange three PulCOO subsets: (i) to maintain the cataloguesearching the HEO objects (calculated limiting sensitivity is a ofthe bright GEO and database ofthe HEO objects; (ii) tomagnitude 16 with 10 s exposure). Also it will be possible toobtain with each optical camera about few hundreds trails ofthe LEO objects per nights. The sample of the LEO trails jwiobtained during one night with fixed optical camera WFOC 16(wide field optical camera) on North Caucasus is presentedin/Fig. 6. WFOC was elaborated for astrophysical applicationsand has the 15-cm diameter, a FOV of 1 8'x22' and limiting 1

sensitivity of magnitude 1 I with 0.13 s exposure [12]. About300-400 space objects crossed a FOV of the WFOC in eachnight.

So, new strategy of the space objects observations is under . ~realization since 2007. Three subsets of the PulCOO will beformed from different telescopes for (i) regular surveying of ° 1 1 2 2 2 2the GEO and HTEO objects down to ism (6 new 22-cm SRT- Declination(°)220 telescopes with a FOV about 20 square degrees) andtracking of discovered objects (23-cm and 40-cm astrographs), Fig. 6. Trails ofthe LEO objects obtained during one night with fixed

optical camera WFOC on North Caucasus.

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measure the physical properties of the faint fragments at high press).orbits having the goal to understand their nature and possible [12] A. Pozanenko, S. Bondar, E. Ivanov, E. Katkova, G. Beskin, S. Karpov,

A. Biryukov, I. Zolotukhin, K. Hurley, "New Wide Field Camera fororigin; (iii) to improve the precisions of orbits of the dangerous search for fast optical transients", Proceedings of fifth US/Russian SpaceLEO objects having the close approaches with operational Surveillance Workshop. Central Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo.satellites and manned spacecrafts. September 24-27, 2003, pp. 224-227.

It is planned that a volume of the PulCOO measurementswill allow to maintain the catalogue of the bright GEO objectsdown to magnitude 15 on basis of own data only since 2008.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Author thanks the staff at the optical observatoriesPulkovo,Nauchnij, Mayaki, Abastumani, Zelenchuk,Maidanak, Kitab, Ussuriysk and Tarija that participated in theobservations. Author would like to express the appreciationto Vladimir Kouprianov and Oleg Rusakov in Pulkovoobservatory, which elaborated necessary technical and softwaresolutions for PulCOO.Author would also like to express the appreciation to

Vladimir Agapov in the Keldysh Institute of the AppliedMathematics, Zakhariy Khutorovsky in the JSC "Vimpel"International Corporation and Vladimir Titenko in the ZverevKrasnogorsky Zavod, which planned the PulCOO experimentsand processed the obtained measurements.Author thanks Valeriy Terebizh and Gennady Borisov in

Crimean Laboratory of the Shternberg state astronomicalinstitute for design of the modern optical schemes andproducing of the excellent telescopes and correctors for thePulCOO.

REFERENCES[1] I. Molotov, "Pulkovo cooperation of optical observers", Programme &

Abstracts of Fourth European Conference on Space Debris, ESA/ESOC,Darmstadt, Germany, 2005, p. 173.

[2] I. Molotov, A. Konovalenko, V. Agapov, et al. "Radar interferometermeasurements of space debris using the Evpatoria RT-70 transmitter",Adv. Space Res., vol. 34, no. 5, 2004, pp. 884-891.

[3] V.M. Agapov, V.V., Biryukov, I.E. Molotov, et al., "Coordinated opticalobservations of the near-Earth space objects in the support of VLBI radarruns", Transactions of Shternberg state astronomical institute, vol. 75,2004, p. 219. (In Russian).

[4] V. Y.. Terebizh, "Modified system of Rihter-Slefogt", Izvestia KrAO,vol. 97, 2001, pp. 101-113. (in Russian).

[5] V. Kouprianov, "Distinguishing features ofCCD astrometry of faint GEOobjects", Adv. Space Res., in press.

[6] V. Agapov, J. Dick, P. Herridge, I. Molotov, M. Ploner, T. Schildkneht, etal. "Joint RAS/PIMS/AIUB GEO survey results", Proceedings of theFourth European Conference on Space Debris, ESA SP-587, ESAPublications Division, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, August 2005. pp.119-124.

[7] V. Agapov, T. Schildknecht, E. Akim, I. Molotov, V. Titenko, V.Yurasov, "Results ofGEO space debris studies in 2004-2005", 57th IACFinal Papers DVD, Valencia, Spain, October 2-6, 2006, IAC-06-B6.1.12,15 pages.

[8] J.P. Arregui, R. Jehn, R., "Classification of Geosynchronous Objects",Issue 9. ESA/ESOC, Ground Systems Engineering Department, MissionAnalysis Office, Darmstadt, Germany, February 2007.

[9] R. Jehn, S. Ariafar, T. Schildknecht, R. Musci, M. Oswald, "Estimatingthe number of debris in the geostationary ring", Acta Astronautica, vol.59, no. 1-5, 2006, pp. 84-90.

[10] A.E. Volvach, V.V. Rumyantsev, I.E., Molotov, V.V. Titenko, V.M.,Agapov, T., Schildknecht, T., et al., "Research of the space debrisfragments at geostationary area", Kosmichna Nauka i Tekhnologiya, vol.12, no. 5/6, 2006, pp. 50-57. (In Russian).

[11] I. Molotov, V. Agapov, V. Titenko V. et al., "International scientificoptical network for space debris research", Adv. Space Res., 2006 (in

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