Simulation and Analysis of Space Object Visibility Based on Space-Based Optics Surveillance

The visibility analysis model of space object based on space-based optics surveillance is derived from constraints including the earth masking, the earth shadow, the sunlight and the field of view. According to the orbit distribution character of space objects, we analyzed the visibility of some typical space objects using three groups of observation platform which has low. middle and high orbits respectively. Three helpful results are derived from the simulation experiments. Firstly, the visibility of low orbit space objects is poor, the total time of visible arcs is less than 1 hour in the 24 hours observation. Secondly, there is extremely little influence made by restraints of the earth masking and the earth shadow for the visibility of middle and high orbit space objects. Finally, the visibility of space objects using middle or high orbit observation platform is beneficial than using low orbit observation platform.