Print Email Facebook Twitter Long-term performance analysis of NORAD Two-Line Elements for CubeSats and PocketQubes Title Long-term performance analysis of NORAD Two-Line Elements for CubeSats and PocketQubes Author Speretta, S. (TU Delft Space Systems Egineering) Sundaramoorthy, P.P. (TU Delft Space Systems Egineering) Gill, E.K.A. (TU Delft Space Engineering) Department Space Engineering Date 2017 Abstract This paper aims at analysing the current capabilities of the NORAD Space Surveillance network, in particular focusing on very small objects in LEO. Spacecraft miniaturization has been pushing the limits and capabilities of small satellites so much that spacecraft as small as 5x5x5 cm have already been launched and even smaller ones are currently envisaged. A common remark is that these objects would be impossible to track with the available radar sensors and they would ultimately only be a threat to existing and future space assets. By analysing the objects in the NORAD catalog, we demonstrate that similar sized objects are currently tracked successfully. Covariance analysis of the available orbital elements is used to demonstrate orbital elements accuracies similar to bigger satellites. We demonstrate as well that measured cross-section is consistently over-estimated for very small objects equipped with VHF or UHF antennas actually showing that this could boost their radar reflectivity. This paper shows thatobjects smaller than 10 cm in side are trackable by current surveillance radars and do not pose a higher threat than other satellites, in case proper measures are taken. Subject PocketQubeCubeSatTLETrackingAccuracy To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:693dc3f0-31f0-43dd-9950-60014f72a176 Publisher DLR, Berlin Source Proceedings Small Satellites for Earth Observation Event 11th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation, 2017-04-24 → 2017-04-28, Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, Germany Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type conference paper Rights © 2017 S. Speretta, P.P. Sundaramoorthy, E.K.A. Gill Files PDF IAA_B11_0505.pdf 639.76 KB PDF 144878002.pdf 17.39 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:693dc3f0-31f0-43dd-9950-60014f72a176/datastream/OBJ1/view