SATELLITE TRACKING WITH TELESCOPE AND SOFTWARE
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Authors
Anderson, Laura G.
Subjects
satellite
tracking
telescope
software
CubeSat
tracking
telescope
software
CubeSat
Advisors
Racoosin, Charles M.
Date of Issue
2019-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Space is becoming increasingly congested and contested as small satellites, to include CubeSats, are launched in greater numbers. The Space Systems Academic Group at the Naval Postgraduate School purchased an advanced commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) telescope from Meade Instruments (model LX600) with the goal of tracking CubeSats and as an educational tool for postgraduate students. This thesis specifies a plan, based on research and proof-of-concept testing, for NPS to create an automated (closed-loop) optical telescope system capable of detecting and tracking CubeSats in low Earth orbit. Satellite tracking will be a new capability for NPS, and will allow for future work in multiple areas, to include orbit determination, space situational awareness, and laser communications. This thesis recommends additional equipment, dedicated software, and permanent staging of the telescope system in order to attain a closed-loop satellite tracking system with an optical telescope.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.