Evaluating sensor tasking strategies for object cataloging in GEO

In recent years, the commercialization of space has undergone an unprecedented rise, characterized by a rapid increase in launch activities and the establishment of large satellite constellations. This exponential growth has led to a significant rise in the number of objects orbiting Earth, posing challenges for space situational awareness, and necessitating the continuous evolution of sensor networks. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date catalog of these objects is imperative for ensuring the safety and sustainability of space activities. The Institute of Space Systems at the Technische Universität Braunschweig continuously develops and refines a Sensor Network Simulator (SNS) tool in response to this pressing need. The current focus of the research is the formulation and analysis of sensor tasking strategies aimed at optimizing the build-up and maintenance of object catalogs. These strategies are designed to adapt to various goals, such as maximizing the identification of unique objects or enhancing the precision of initial orbit determination, particularly when utilizing angles-only data usually obtained from telescope observations. A key contribution of the study is integrating a Greedy algorithm into the SNS framework, enabling efficient coordination and utilization of both telescopes and radar sensors operating in scanning mode. For telescopes, different scanning methods, including vertical and horizontal stripe techniques, have been implemented to enable observations of objects at multiple points along their respective orbits. This approach significantly enhances the probability of achieving accurate initial orbit determinations, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of space situational awareness efforts. The presented work provides an overview of the tasking methodologies integrated into the SNS platform and presents preliminary findings from the analysis and evaluation of these strategies. As an exemplary application, the performances of the different implemented methods regarding the build-up of a catalog for geostationary objects are analyzed and compared. • Sensor tasking methods are implemented and added to the Sensor Network Simulator. • Strategies for surveying GEO orbits are implemented and applied to cataloging. • The strategies aim to observe objects in GEO multiple times at different positions. • The probability for successful initial orbit determination is increased. • A Greedy method has been implemented, used to optimize re-observations of objects.