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Laser-Guide-Star Satellite for Ground-Based Adaptive Optics Imaging of Geosynchronous Satellites

Author(s)
Marlow, Weston; Carlton, Ashley; Hyosang, Yoon; Clark, James; Haughwout, Christian; Cahoy, Kerri; Males, Jared; Close, Laird; Morzinski, Katie; ... Show more Show less
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Abstract
In this study, the feasibility and utility of using a maneuverable nanosatellite laser guide star from a geostationary equatorial orbit have been assessed to enable ground-based, adaptive optics imaging of geosynchronous satellites with next-generation extremely large telescopes. The concept for a satellite guide star was first discussed in the literature by Greenaway and Clark in the early 1990s ("PHAROS: An Agile Satellite-Borne Laser Guidestar," Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 2120, 1994, pp. 206-210), and expanded upon by Albert in 2012 ("Satellite-Mounted Light Sources as Photometric Calibration Standards for Ground-Based Telescopes," Astronomical Journal, Vol. 143, No. 1, 2012, p. 8). With a satellite-based laser as an adaptive optics guide star, the source laser does not need to scatter, and is well above atmospheric turbulence. When viewed from the ground through a turbulent atmosphere, the angular size of the satellite guide star is much smaller than a backscattered source. Advances in small-satellite technology and capability allowed the revisiting of the concept on a 6U CubeSat, measuring 10×20×30 cm. It is shown that a system that uses a satellite-based laser transmitter can be relatively low power (~1 W transmit power) and operated intermittently. Although the preliminary analysis indicates that a single satellite guide star cannot be used for observing multiple astronomical targets, it will only require a little propellant to relocate within the geosynchronous belt. Results of a design study on the feasibility of a small-satellite guide star have been presented, and the potential benefits to astronomical imaging and to the larger space situational awareness community have been highlighted.
Date issued
2017-05
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/110957
Publisher
Journal of Spacecraft & Rockets
Citation
Marlow, W. A., Carlton, A. K., Hyosang, Y., Clark, J. R., Haughwout, C. A., Cahoy, K. L., & ... Morzinski, K. M. (2017). Laser-Guide-Star Satellite for Ground-Based Adaptive Optics Imaging of Geosynchronous Satellites. Journal Of Spacecraft & Rockets, 54(3), 621-639.
ISSN
00224650

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