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Projecte llegit

Títol: Feasibility study of space debris detection with small optical telescope

Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:

Director/a: RADDI, ROBERTO

Departament: FIS

Títol: Feasibility study of space debris detection with small optical telescope

Data inici oferta: 14-02-2022     Data finalització oferta: 16-02-2022


Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    GR ENG SIST AEROESP
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: EETAC
 
Segon director/a (UPC): TORRES GIL, SANTIAGO
 
Paraules clau:
space debris, optical telescope
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
Space debris is a currently increasing aerospace problem. Several organizations and space agencies put a great effort in time and resources for their detection and follow up. However, the number of space junk debris, given its overwhelming number and the great variety of sizes, surpasses the capabilities of any particular project. Small optical telescopes, such as the Joan Oró Telescope at the Montsec Astronomical Facilities may contribute to alleviate this problem.

In the thesis, an initial general review of space debris detection will be presented, especially focused on the detection and observation with small optical telescopes. Then, with the use of open software, a set of simulations will be performed in order to reproduce the observable characteristics of space debris, such as different orbital parameters, debris sizes and configurations. These simulations will be adapted to the Joan Oró telescope, in order to elucidate the possibility of observing such objects.
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
Space debris is a currently increasing aerospace problem. Several organizations and
space agencies put a great effort in time and resources for their detection and follow up.
However, given the overwhelming number of space junk debris and the great variety of
sizes, it surpasses the capabilities of any particular project. Small optical telescopes, such
as the Joan Or¿o Telescope at the Montsec Astronomical Facilities and JAST80 at the
Jalavalambre Observatory may contribute to alleviate this problem.
In this thesis, an initial general review of space debris detection is presented, especially
focused on the detection and observation with small optical telescopes. Then, with the
use of open software, ORDEM 3.1 from NASA, a set of simulations is performed in order
to reproduce the observable characteristics of space debris, such as different orbital parameters,
debris sizes and configurations. These simulations are adapted to the Joan Or¿o
Telescope, at the Parc Observatori de Montsec and the JAST80, at the Observatorio Astronomico
de Javalambre, in order to elucidate the possibility of observing such objects.
The study is done using two types of coordinate systems for observations: equatorial and
altazimuth, both implemented in Montsec and Javalambre. To check the viability of the
thesis, our results are compared to those from real studies that have been done with optical
telescope, particularly the Zimmerwald telescope for GEO debris, and Mt. Haleakala
and Diego Garcia island telescopes for LEO debris. Finally, as main results we can point
out that equatorial coordinates system presents the capability of detecting brightest objects,
specifically in Montsec. On the other hand, altazimuth coordinate system shows the
possibility of detecting faintest objects and in particular in Javalambre observatory. The
detectable objects will range from tiny objects (1 cm) to large objects (more than 1 m of
diameter).

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