Space Object Search and Detection Studies with a Ground-Based Television Sensor

A test facility was constructed for the purpose of evaluating the sensitivity of modern television camera tubes for detection of moving point sources under operating conditions approximating those to be encountered by ground- or space-based optical surveillance sensors in the ADC SPACETRACK augmentation role. This test facility was very similar to the GEODSS prototype concept later evolved by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory for installation at the Lincoln Laboratory Stallion Test Site, White Sands Missile Range. Results are given for use of the test-bed system, for a period of 50 days, as a quasi- operational sensor patrolling the geosynchronous traffic belt where some 70 spacecraft and their rocket stages are known to be orbiting. Four hundred thirty-seven satellite detections were made, 175 being of near geosynchronous objects. Positional data were taken of 74 of these satellites and reported to the Space Defense Center for comparison with Baker-Nunn photographic data. A simple photometric SOI subsystem was devised to use the EBSICON camera tube as the detector, and signatures of more than 20 satellites recorded. Some of these are reported here.