1 3-13 μ m Spectra of Geosynchronous Satellites

We report 3-13 μm spectra of three geosynchronous satellites using The Aerospace Corporation’s Broadband Array Spectrograph System (BASS) on the AEOS 3.7 meter telescope at Haleakala in December 2005. The satellites observed were NORAD 21639 (TDRS 5), 11145 (DSCS 2-12) and 15629 (INTELSAT 510). The spectra showed structure indicative of the satellites’ surface material, temperature and cross section as viewed from the observatory. A brief summary of how to analyze such spectra to retrieve surface material composition, temperature and geometrical cross section is included.

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