AGO70: passive optical system to support SLR tracking of space debris on LEO

Primary motivation for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) objects tracking with passive optical systems is from operational point of view to support the tracking of space debris objects with Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR). The Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (FMPI) operates 70 cm Newtonian telescope (AGO70) situated at the Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra, Slovakia (AGO). Observation program of this sensor focuses on space debris tracking situated from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) up to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). In our work we present the AGO70’s overall design and discuss in detail all its subsystems, as well as interfaces. Presented will be its performance for real-time observation data provision towards SLR station to improve the station’s tracking efficiency of LEO debris and of calibration objects (validation). Furthermore, the angle and range measurements acquired by two different sensors, AGO70 (passive optical) (SK), Graz SLR (active optical) (AT) are used for astrodynamic analysis of observed targets.