Status of Telescope Fabra ROA at Montsec: Optical Observations for Space Surveillance & Tracking

TL;DR

The Fabra ROA telescope at Montsec is a refurbished Baker-Nunn Camera used for space surveillance, capable of tracking satellites and participating in ESA campaigns, with recent autonomous operations and significant observational results.

Contribution

This paper reports on the operational status and capabilities of the TFRM telescope for space surveillance and tracking, including its participation in ESA satellite campaigns and autonomous remote operation.

Findings

Conducted 1137 accurate satellite position measurements during ESA campaign.

Successfully operated in remote, unattended robotic mode since 2011.

Provided valuable observational data for space situational awareness.

Abstract

The telescope Fabra ROA at Montsec (TFRM) is a 0.5m f/1 refurbished Baker-Nunn Camera (BNC) operated by a collaboration between the Fabra Observatory - Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences of Barcelona and the Spanish Navy Observatory (ROA), and installed at Montsec Astronomical Observatory (Spain). Among other capabilities, its CCD FoV (4.4{\deg}x4.4{\deg}), the telescope tracking at arbitrary RA and DEC rates, and the CCD shutter commanding at will during the exposure are specially remarkable for Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) observational programs. On Feb 2011, the TFRM participated, in the CO-VI third run satellite tracking campaign of the ESA SST/Space Surveillance Awareness Preparatory Program (SST/SSA-PP). During this multi-asset 7-day campaign the TFRM conducted systematic observations of artificial satellites which yielded to the determination of 1137 accurate position measurements. Since Feb 2011, the TFRM is observing in remote and fully unattended robotic modes under commissioning status. A summary of the results of the ESA CO-VI SST optical observational campaign and insights of other SST-like observations in process will be presented.