Optical Observation Campaign in the Framework of the ESA Space Surveillance System Precursor Services

The ESA SSA CO-VI study Space Surveillance Precursor Services is evaluating the conditions to implement an operational European Space Surveillance network and is establishing first precursor services. In the framework of this study seven European optical sensors were tasked to provide quasi simultaneous observations of operational GEO and MEO spacecraft. GPS and GLONASS navigation satellites served as calibration targets. The observations were organized in three one-week campaigns in December 2010, January and February 2011. The paper presents the overall campaign planning including the target selection, the detailed sensor coordination activities during the campaigns, the data reduction and processing, as well as the results. The astrometric accuracy and possible epoch biases of the observations provided by the sensors were estimated by comparing the measurements of the calibration objects with precise ephemerides. Orbits were determined for all target objects using the acquired optical measurements. The lessons learned are discussed and suggestions concerning the further development of an operational European optical space surveillance sensor network are made.