Accession Number:

ADA621928

Title:

Multiple-Baseline Detection of a Geostationary Satellite with the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC REMOTE SENSING DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Armstrong, J. T.
• Barnes, Ellyn K.
• Schmitt, Henrique R.
• Restaino, Sergio R.
• Clark III, James H.
• Benson, James A.
• Hutter, Donald J.
• Zavala, Robert T.

Report Date:

2015-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

9.0

Abstract:

We describe multi-baseline observations of a geostationary satellite using the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer NPOI during the glint season of March 2015. We succeeded in detecting DirecTV-7S with an interferometer baseline length of 8.8 m on two nights, with a brief simultaneous detection at 9.8 m baseline length on the second night. These baseline lengths correspond to a resolution of 4 m at geostationary altitude. This is the first multiple-baseline interferometric detection of a satellite.

Descriptors:

• *ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
• *OPTICAL INTERFEROMETERS
• ARRAYS
• BASE LINES
• DETECTION
• GLINT
• LENGTH
• OBSERVATION
• PHOTOMETRY
• SPECTROMETERS

Subject Categories:

• Optics
• Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE