Satellite early identification through LED observations: First in-orbit results from WildTrackCube-SIMBA
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Date
2022-04Author
Piergentili, Fabrizio
Marzioli, Paolo
Frezza, Lorenzo
Curianò, Federico
Zarcone, Gaetano
Mariani, Lorenzo
Amadio, Diego
Gianfermo, Andrea
Picci, Niccolò
Bedetti, Emanuele
Hossein, Shariar Hadji
Kabutha, Daniel Kiarie
Celesti, Paola
Rossetti, Matteo
Cimino, Lorenzo
Bucciarelli, Mascia
Seitzer, Patrick
Cutler, James
Mwaniki, Charles
Toninelli, Murizio
Jahjah, Munzer
Santoni, Fabio
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Show full item recordAbstract
Autonomous illumination payloads on-board small satellites, i.e. LED (LightEmitting Diode) boards on CubeSats, can be tracked by ground-based
telescopes for optical identification, orbit determination and attitude
determination. The concept has been explored through the LEDSAT 1-Unit
CubeSat project, conceived by Sapienza University of Rome and University of
Michigan, and generalized for implementation on all the satellite form factors
and classes. The first CubeSat that was launched with LED-based payloads onboard is WildTrackCube-SIMBA (International Designator code 2021-022 K,
NORAD identifier 47 941), conceived by Sapienza University of Rome,
Machakos University and University of Nairobi. The spacecraft was launched
on March 22, 2021, while LEDSAT has been launched on August 17, 2021.
This paper describes the proof of concept of LED boards tracking performed
with blue LEDs (449–453 nm) installed on-board the WildTrackCube-SIMBA
1-Unit CubeSat. The observations results provide the identification of the
object among the numerous satellites released by the same launcher and the
recognition of the flashing pattern and satellite face. The results validate the
concept of the usefulness of such payloads on-board small satellite platforms,
while the upcoming mission LEDSAT will extend the investigation significance
by performing extended operations with an enhanced LED-based payload.