Radio location observations of space debris in VIRAC

Vl. Bezrukovs, I. Šmelds, M. Ņechaeva, D. Bezrukovs, N. Jekabsons, M. Abele, D. Kotlere

Ventspils University College, LatviaExpanding the Universe

Conference in Tartu28 April 2011

Outline

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC).

VIRAC history and new challenges.

Project "Signals related to Artificial Earth Satellites: Technologies of Receiving, Transmitting and Processing“.

Irbene Radio telescope RT-32 preparation for observations.

Space debris observation experiment VLBR10.1, 30 of June of 2010,

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC)

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy CenterRT-2

RT-16 RT-32

KristalsVentspils University College

Engineering Research Institute“Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center” (ERI VIRAC)History

•1950. – the secret Soviet military space center is established.•1960. – 1970. two parabolic antennas with diameters 32 (RT-32) and 16 (RT-16) meters are built•1994. after withdrawal the Soviet Army antennas become to Latvian Academy of Science. Telescopes are heavy damaged, any documentation is absent. Soon VIRAC is established.•1998. First antenna movement and radio astronomical observations• 2004. VIRAC merges with VUC• 2010. VIRAC merges Engineering Research Instititute of VUC. Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center” is established.

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center

Very Long Base Line Interfereometry (VLBI) European VLBI Network (EVN) Low Frequency VLBI Network

(LFVN) Space debris and small planets

radiolocation Astrophysics and astrometry research

Solar radio astronomy Astrochemistry Active galactic Nuclei

VLBI data processing and modeling Radiotelescope RT-32 and RT-16

control system optimization MHD modeling and solid-state

mechanics Mathematical modeling Medical engineering

Fast prototyping research laboratory Renewable energy research and

energy efficiency studies Small power generators Wind energy research

Intelligent network studies Smart house applications Digital TV applications Economical studies group

Satellite navigation and satellite communication research Satellite navigation (GPS, Galileo,

GLONASS)Space geodesySatellite signal processing

Space communications Satellite data processing

Signal and image processing Satellite components research and

development

Fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics

Applied research in the space field

High performance computingApplied engineering and

electronics

The European VLBI Network (EVN) is an interferometric array of radio telescopes spread throughout Europe (and beyond) that conducts unique, high resolution, radio astronomical observations of cosmic radio sources. It is the most sensitive VLBI array in the world, thanks to the collection of extremely large telescopes that contribute to the network.

COOPERATION/PARTNERS/PROJECTS

Activities of the project:

The Reconstruction of the telescope RT-16, research in the fields of electronics, mechanics and mathematical modeling

The Development and application of methods for processing the recorded data

Space debris radiolocation using the radio telescope RT-32 and the VLBI techniques

Software correlator for VLBI data processing and software for computing the orbital elements and future coordinates of the observed objects (debris).

Collaboration with Radio physical Research Institute, Nizhnij Novgorod, Russia and LFVN

More than 20 researchers involved within the project

Project “Signals related to Artificial Earth Satellites: Technologies of Receiving, Transmitting and Processing”(2009 – 2012)

COOPERATION/PARTNERS/PROJECTS

Radio Telescopes:Bear Lakes RT-64Pushchino RT-22Zimenki RT-15St. Pustyn RT-14 (Russia)Evpatoria RT-70Simeiz RT-22 (Ukraine)Noto RT-32Medicina RT-32 (Italy),Urumqi RT-25 (China),Ventspils RT-32 (Latvia).

Frequencies:92 cm, 18 cm, 6 cm.

Recording systems:TN16, MK-2, NRTV, MK-V.

Activities: Investigations of solar wind, solar spikes, AGN, OH-masers, active stars and radar

research of Earth group planets, close asteroids and space debris objects.

Low Frequency VLBI Network Project (LFVN)

VLBI-radar method since 2001 is applied for determination of path of planets, asteroids and space debris objects (disabled satellites, rocket stages, etc.).

The VLBI radar method represents the combination of the "classic" radar and VLBI.

As a result, such combination gives the instruments, which can measure the range, radial velocity (like radar) and the angle and angular velocity (like VLBI).

The main task of the experiments is the receiving of information about object’s coordinates and velocity on measurements of time delay and Doppler frequency.

Planet radar RT-70 (Evpatoria, Ukraine)

VLBI radar method

VLBI radar method

Transmitting antenna

Receiving antennas

Data Processing

Center

During VLBI radar experiment the planet radar irradiates the space object, and the array of radio telescopes receives the reflected from object signal in VLBI mode.

VIRAC took part in radar VLBI experiments since 2007 on LFVN, including:

planet radar in Evpatoria, Ukraine: RT-70, F=5 GHz, P=20-60 kW (continuous regime of emission);

VLBI-sites: RT-64 (Kalyazin, Russia), RT-22

(Simeiz, Ukraine), RT-32 (Noto, Italy), RT-32 (Medicina, Italy), RT-25 (Urumqi, China) and RT-32 (Irbene, Latvia)

Data processing centre “NIRFI-3” (Nizhnij Novgorod, Russia)

VLBI-station RT-32 (Irbene, VIRAC)

VLBI-equipment:Working frequency range:

327, 5’010, 12’000 MHzFrequency converter:

DBBC, MK-IIRecording system:

MK-V B,TN-16, MK-IISynchronization system:Hydrogen Maser “Quartz”

CH-75A, synchronized by GPS

57.553 N, 21.855E

Signal receiving and registration system on radiotelescope RT- 32 (for observations of space debris and bodies of solar system)

TN-16, and Mark II are analog-digital convertersRegistration system will be upgarded to DBBC with Mark 5b system

5 GHz receiving system on RT-32

Video Converter, 100MHz

Mixer and 4580 MHz synthesizer

Freq. sintez.

Mark II formatter

VCR

TN-16

5 GHz horn

PC, HDD

H maser clock

Freq. sintez.

5 MHz

5 MHz

5 MHz

5 MHz

5 MHz

60 MHz4 MHz

5010 MHz receiver with 1st and 2nd

amplifier 5010 MHz

160 MHz

2 MHz

GPS1 PPS

1 PPS

LCP and RCP Bandwidth 400 MHzNoise temp 100K

5 GHz receiver preparation and installation works on RT-32

RT-32 telescope focal cabin reconstructed;• new shelves for equipment;• RF and power connection;• Heated, hermetic room for receiving

equipment prepared; • Created and installed new system for

precise receiver alignment; Feeder for 5 GHz receiver mounted; 5 GHz cryogenic receiver mounted, connected

and tested;

Receiving system at 5GHz with recording terminal TN-16 was calibrated using external signal generator and is suitable for VLBI experiments .

Example of power spectra from 5.01 GHz signal autocorrelation.Frequency 250 kHz, bandwidth 0.5 MHz. (29.06.2010).

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.50.1

0

0.1

0.2correlator's signal

Re Mn Im Mn

n st imax st( ) 103

0 100 200 300 4000

0.2

0.4

0.6

YY 1

YY 0 10 3

vvesti chastotny interval: interv 00 500000( ) Fm fm interv0 0 interv0 1 0 Am fm interv0 0 interv0 1 1 s

Chastota maxim (kHz): Fm 248.84kHz

Amplituda maximuma: Am 0.495

chastotnoe razreshenie: kf 0.244kHz filer1 "f:\scan\out\tk"

5 GHz receiver calibration

VLBR10.1, 30 of June of 2010, 09:04 – 17:00 UT

Transmission mode (Evpatoria locator on RT-70, Ukraine):Monochromatic radiation;central frequency of 5010.024 MHz,polarization RCP,power P=40 kWObservational mode: Bandwidth: 500 KHzCentral frequency: 5010.0 MHzPolarization: RCP and LCP (Medicina, RT-32, Italy),

LCP (Ventspils, RT-32, Latvia)Recording systems:

Mark-V (Medicina),TN-16, Mark-II (Ventspils)

The data processing is carried out simultaneously in Medicina and Nizhnij Novgorod and in the VIRAC corelator (test)

Experiment VLBR 10.1

Investigations of space debris (Iridium-Cosmos and Fengyun 1C fragments) in LEO;

Several LEO regions for searching not yet catalogued debris;

High Area/Mass debris in GEO;

Astronomical and radar calibrators.

The scientific tasks of experiment:

Experiment VLBR 10.1#

Catalog

Number Time UT

1 34502 09:04 – 09:06

2 1520 09:45 – 09:47

3 35303 10:04 – 10:06

4 31424 10:23 – 10:25

5 21131 10:53 – 10:55

6 BP011 11:05 – 11:45

7 BP012 12:05 – 12:45

8 BP013 13:05 – 13:35

9 900 13:56 – 13:58

10 35716 14:07 – 14:09

11 26277 14:24 – 14:26

12 BP021 14:39 – 15:19

13 35726 15:38 – 15:40

14 BP022 15:47 – 16:15

15 3C273B 16:30 – 16:40

16 3C286 16:50 – 17:00

The samples of power spectrum, calculated from correlation of transmitter signal and signal, reflected from space debris object “35303” and received by RT-32 (Irbene)

Frequency of Doppler shift is calculated from spectral maximum.

Data processing was performed in NIRFI

Experiment VLBR 10.1

Frequency of Doppler shift calculation

Experiment VLBR 10.1Preliminary results:Calculated Doppler shift relative to observation point for detected objects

Initial data Measured

data Catalog number Time V_tr(m/s) V_r(m/s) F_d(kHz) F_dop(kHz)

Radial velocity Dopler shifts Dopler shits Relative to transmitter Relative to receiver

Medicina 1520 9 46 2462.996 1739.411 -70.23 -70.2

35303 10 5 -3250.951 -3110.476 106.31 106.2

31424 10 24 3520.603 530.827 -67.71 -67.6

21131 10 54 -4376.951 -2499.865 114.92 114.8

900 13 57 -4425.231 -4006.655 140.91 141

35716 14 8 -826.057 2452.017 -27.17 -27.7

26277 14 25 4160.997 -416.160 -62.58 -62.5

Ventspils, Irbene 35303 10 5 -3250.951 4876.704 -27.17 -26.932

900 13 57 -4425.231 2428.563 33.37 33.361

Conclusions and future plans related to space debris

Development of the ground station for radio location observations of space debris and asteroids on the basis of the radio telescope RT-32 with collaboration with LFVN and other VLBI networks

Development of the software correllator for observation data processing and correlation on the basis of the Ventspils University College cluster.

Develop software package development for computing the orbital elements and future coordinates of the observed objects (with collaboration with Latvian University

Prepare and manage space debris observational sessions

The expected accuracy of objects of space debris position and velocity measurements are up to some cm and up to several mm/sec.

Nikolaj Dugin, Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhnij Novgorod, Russia;Guntis Ozoliņš, VIRAC;and all other VIRAC team.Giuseppe Pupillo, Istituto di Radioastronomia, ItalyStelio Montebugnoli, Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, ItalyАлександр Коноваленко, Радиоастрономический институт национальной академии наук Украины, Харьков.Национальный центр управления и испытания космических средств, Евпатория, Украина

In collaboration with:

Thank you for attention.

Nr. 2009/0231/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/151