An Investigation Into the Use of Amateur Astronomy Equipment For Optical Orbit Determination Using a Mobile Telescope Platform

Author

Johan C. Govaars, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2951

Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Name

MS in Aerospace Engineering

Department/Program

Aerospace Engineering

College

College of Engineering

Advisor

Kira Abercromby

Advisor Department

Aerospace Engineering

Advisor College

College of Engineering

Abstract

The process of optical orbit determination has long been in the domain of large organizations and stationary observatories with highly specialized scientific equipment. This thesis seeks to determine not only if satellites can be captured regularly using purely commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, but also if initial orbit determinations can be made using that data. Moreover, the use of a mobile telescope platform allows users to circumvent the restrictions of fixed observatories such as low horizon viewing restrictions or existing light pollution.

A completely COTS setup was utilized that included an 8-inch Celestron NextStar 8SE telescope with an f/6.3 focal reducer and Canon Rebel T7i DSLR camera. Ten successful, complete observations of satellites were performed at San Geronimo Road Turnout in Cayucos. The DSLR utilized provided nearly double the field-of-view and ten times the resolution of previously used cameras while simultaneously reducing the overall cost of the setup to just over $4000. Initial orbit determination (IOD) solutions utilizing Gauss Extended and Gauss Extended with assumed circular-orbit(ACO) provided orbital parameters with as low as 0.02% difference from government generated two-line elements (TLEs).