Detection of debris spacecraft in orbit on the basis of an instrument embarked on board a satellite

摘要

A microsatellite (4) has two objectives (2) each linked to CCD cameras (6) through image intensifier tubes (5). The image intensifier tubes which are controlled by a modulation unit (11) through a photocathode (10) allow the cameras to take a series of pictures of any orbiting debris (9). A processing unit (7) uses the data to produce size, speed and trajectory information for the debris and power is supplied by a solar battery (8).