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I don't really know what I'm looking at here, but it feels very sci-fi and I'm into it. I also wonder, how do they track so many objects? Who actually tracks

I don't really know what I'm looking at here, but it feels very sci-fi and I'm into it. I also wonder, how do they track so many objects? Who actually tracks them? How much does it cost (energy, engineers) to maintain the tracking systems? Edit: Are these all simulated orbits? Is there a big "orbit registry" somewhere? And what are the "beams"?

tullianus 4y ago
LEOlabs operates its own radar systems that point upwards-ish. The "beams" you see are the fields of view of their radars. When an object crosses that field of view going at orbital speeds, LEOlabs tracks it and uses the partial trajectory information to figure out the orbit of the object. From there, it can potentially associate that object with existing objects in its own and other databases (the US Space Force, which operates its own radars, is one of the best-known). It then sells that information to spacecraft operators, who may be using the orbital information to determine if their spacecraft has a risk of hitting another object in space, or to figure out where their spacecraft are in the first place (usually when they're not talking to the ground).
beardyw 4y ago
I am pretty certain they must be dead reckoning the location with occasional updates.
- mlindner 4y ago
  That's how all space debris tracking works. Luckily orbits are rather predictable paths, but there's still atmospheric drag, lunar and solar gravity, non-uniform Earth gravity, solar photon pressure and measurement imprecision to deal with.
ahazred8ta 4y ago
Is there a big orbit registry somewhere? Yes. https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/osoindex/search-ng.jspx https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/osoindex/search-ng.jspx Each individual object is observed every few weeks, and then they estimate its current position with math and physics. How do they track them? With big expensive radar systems, mostly paid for by the military. It's an international collaboration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_domain_awareness#Systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_domain_awareness#Systems
- mlindner 4y ago
  LEOlabs operates and pays for their own radars. They're a commercial company.
sizzzzlerz 4y ago
The US Air Force, for one, is responsible for tracking everything it sees. That generally means computing TLAs for each object. Whether they release this info, I don't know.
- evilotto 4y ago
  Space Force. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Space_Defense_Squadron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Space_Defense_Squadron
- tullianus 4y ago
  That capability was transferred to the Space Force recently. They make their data publicly available here: https://www.space-track.org/ https://www.space-track.org/
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]

tullianus 4y ago

LEOlabs operates its own radar systems that point upwards-ish. The "beams" you see are the fields of view of their radars. When an object crosses that field of view going at orbital speeds, LEOlabs tracks it and uses the partial trajectory information to figure out the orbit of the object. From there, it can potentially associate that object with existing objects in its own and other databases (the US Space Force, which operates its own radars, is one of the best-known). It then sells that information to spacecraft operators, who may be using the orbital information to determine if their spacecraft has a risk of hitting another object in space, or to figure out where their spacecraft are in the first place (usually when they're not talking to the ground).

beardyw 4y ago

I am pretty certain they must be dead reckoning the location with occasional updates.

mlindner 4y ago
That's how all space debris tracking works. Luckily orbits are rather predictable paths, but there's still atmospheric drag, lunar and solar gravity, non-uniform Earth gravity, solar photon pressure and measurement imprecision to deal with.

ahazred8ta 4y ago

Is there a big orbit registry somewhere? Yes. https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/osoindex/search-ng.jspx https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/osoindex/search-ng.jspx Each individual object is observed every few weeks, and then they estimate its current position with math and physics. How do they track them? With big expensive radar systems, mostly paid for by the military. It's an international collaboration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_domain_awareness#Systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_domain_awareness#Systems

mlindner 4y ago
LEOlabs operates and pays for their own radars. They're a commercial company.

sizzzzlerz 4y ago

The US Air Force, for one, is responsible for tracking everything it sees. That generally means computing TLAs for each object. Whether they release this info, I don't know.

evilotto 4y ago
Space Force. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Space_Defense_Squadron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Space_Defense_Squadron
tullianus 4y ago
That capability was transferred to the Space Force recently. They make their data publicly available here: https://www.space-track.org/ https://www.space-track.org/
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]