The population of geosynchronous satellites is rapidly increasing with over 300 active, revenue producing large satellites and over 500 inactive dead resident space objects that pose a physical collision threat to the active satellites. The in situ demise of a particular satellite, Telstar 401, initiated a research and development effort at MIT Lincoln Laboratory to address this threat. This work with commercial satellite operators is accomplished using the mechanism of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements. Initial work to detect and warn of close approaches with Telstar 401 and other drifting satellites led to more extensive research on the collision threat over the entire geosynchronous belt eventually leading to an automated warning system monitoring all active commercial partner satellites. The main objective for this effort is two fold: 1) to monitor and provide conjunction warning of all potential encounters of the commercial partner active satellites with inactive drifters - this is carried out using metric observations from the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), and partner ranging data and maneuver schedule information to produce precision orbits of the space objects of interest; and 2) to carry out research and development to refine conjunction assessment accuracy, timeliness and ease of use. This paper surveys what has been achieved so far in predicting the threat and protecting geosynchronous satellites as well as detailing new conjunction visualization tools. In particular, a detailed description is given of the capabilities of a station-keeping box visualization tool and its uses in conjunction analysis, particularly in the areas of long term monitoring of drifters, active vs. active monitoring, and avoidance strategy planning and analysis.
展开▼
