Measurements to Space Debris in 2016–2020 by Laser Sensor at Borowiec Poland

Smagło, Adrian; Lejba, Paweł; Schillak, Stanisław; Suchodolski, Tomasz; Michałek, Piotr; Zapaśnik, Stanisław; Bartoszak, Jacek

doi:10.2478/arsa-2001-0009

Abstract

In 2014, a significant upgrade was made to the Borowiec (BORL 7811) laser-ranging system, which is the part of Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS). Two high-energy lasers modules were installed. First is the EKSPLA PL-2250, used for tracking objects equipped with retroreflectors. Second is the Continuum Surelite III, dedicated to the tracking of space debris without retroreflectors. In 2016, the BORL station joined the space debris tracking laser group and, since then, is tracking systematically inactive/defunct satellites and typical rocket bodies from LEO regime. Today, the BORL is tracking regularly about 80 different space debris objects. The paper presents the activity of the BORL laser station in observations of space debris. The results presented are from years 2016 to 2020. The sum of all passes from this period is almost 2 000, giving over 23 000 normal points. Average root mean square error (RMS) of objects with satellite laser ranging-dedicated (SLR-dedicated) retroreflectors ranges 1.5 cm–14 cm and of objects without SLR-dedicated retroreflectors ranges 8 cm–222 cm.

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Measurements to Space Debris in 2016–2020 by Laser Sensor at Borowiec Poland

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