64th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics
Volume 67, Number 15
Monday–Friday, October 17–21, 2022;
Spokane, Washington
Session YI02: Magnetic Confinement Fusion/Postdeadline
9:30 AM–12:30 PM,
Friday, October 21, 2022
Room: Ballroom 100 B
Chair: Ksenia Aleynikova, IPP Max Planck, Greifswald
Abstract: YI02.00004 : Space Object Identification by Measurements of Orbit-Driven Waves (SOIMOW)
11:00 AM–11:30 AM
Abstract
Presenter:
Paul A Bernhardt
(University of Alaska)
Author:
Paul A Bernhardt
(University of Alaska)
The SOIMOW project measures in situ electromagnetic waves excited by satellites and space debris moving through the earth’s plasma in low earth orbit by exploiting satellite conjunctions. Detection of spacecraft and debris is part of national effort to identify satellites below the normal detection thresholds of existing space-track sensors. This is traditionally accomplished with satellite sensors employing optics and ranging sensors. SOIMOW uses in situ plasma receivers to detect space objects during orbital conjunctions that excite electromagnetic and electrostatic plasma waves. SOIMOW measures low frequency plasma modes with electric and magnetic field receivers on host satellites to characterize passing space objects. Satellites moving through the near-earth ionosphere between 200 and 1000 km altitude become electrically charged by both electron collection and photo emission in sunlight. These hypersonic charged objects pass through the ionosphere setting up electric currents and electric potentials that can produce a wide range of plasma waves. The SOIMOW technique may detect electromagnetic plasma waves launched by satellite motion out to ranges of tens of kilometers. Measurements of the time signature of the waves can provide information on space objects’ presence, shape, orbit, and propulsion system. SOIMOW is not hampered by terrestrial cloud cover, insensitivity due to large stand-off distances, and the need to radiate signals for target illumination. The SOIMOW concept has been demonstrated using the Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI) on the SWARM-E satellite with detection of micro-satellites and space debris in low earth orbit (LEO). The goal of future research is to extend current detection capabilities to objects less than 10 cm in size using state-of-the art electric-field receiver technology. Both machine learning and plasma wave analysis will be applied to the SOIMOW observations to determine the impact of object physical characteristics and background plasma environment on system performance.