Optimal Placement of a GEODSS (Ground-Based Electrooptical Deep-Space Surveillance Sensor)

Successful operation of the Ground-Based Electrooptical Deep-Space Surveillance GEODSS system, basically an optical video camera that tracks objects in high Earth orbit, requires that the following five conditions are met Sun at least 6 degrees below horizon surface wind speed less than 25 knots temperature more than -50 C satellite elevation at least 15 deg. above horizon and a 5-minute cloud-free line-of-sight between satellite and sensor. This report gives the probabilities of combinations of those conditions at twelve proposed Canadian GEODSS sites. It includes a review of fundamentals, a discussion of computer model results, and a comparison of results for each candidate location.