Space-Based Visible Space Surveillance Performance

Abstract

The Space-Based Visible sensor package on the Midcourse Space Experiment satellite has been used to conduct space surveillance experiments for nearly one and a half years. The long-term detection sensitivity and metric performance of Space-Based Visible using onboard signal processed data are described. These data are also used to illustrate unique capabilities of the Space-Based Visible sensor. Space-Based Visible has access to the entire geosynchronous belt, and its wide e eld of view allows data to be collected on multiple resident space objects simultaneously. The large e eld of view also allows data to be collected on uncorrelated targets. Use of Space-Based Visible observations to detect and identify uncorrelated targets is also presented.