Space debris environment monitoring fence: techniques and future directions

摘要

Early warning of debris impact makes it necessary to detect and, if possible, catalog all threatening debris. Space debris environment monitoring fence is an attractive option for the requirement. This kind of fence can detect each object passing through its beam with no task planning. It has significant capabilities to detect new launchings, maneuvers and breakups. This paper depicts the necessity of monitoring space debris terrestrial environment and the merits of space debris environment monitoring fence. An overview of the world state of the fence research is present. The techniques of space debris environment monitoring using the fence are discussed, including determination the position and velocity vectors of detected objects from direction cosines, orbit determination by itself and by cooperating with auxiliary sensors, and correlation and cataloging of space objects. Methods of new launching, maneuver validation and detection of breakups are highlighted. The calibration of space debris environment monitoring fence is also described. The future directions of this kind of fence are analyzed in terms of operating frequency, operating concept and system configuration.