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Space Surveillance

Satellite-to-satellite imaging

On occasion, an imaging satellite will fly close enough to another satellite to obtain a resolved picture of it. This technique, called "satellite-to-satellite" imaging or "sat-squared," has been rumored to be in use for several years using reconnaissance satellites. An unclassified example is this optical image of the ERS-1 radar satellite imaged by the SPOT-4 remote sensing satellite in May of 1998. For further details, see https://spot4.cnes.fr/spot4_gb/im-ers-0.htm

Other Resources

• A Stealth Satellite Sourcebook by Allen Thomson, updated March 8, 2016
• Sourcebook on the Okno and Krona Space Surveillance Systems by Allen Thomson, updated November 19, 2014
• A Globus II / HAVE STARE Sourcebook by Allen Thomson, updated September 20, 2013
• A GRAVES Sourcebook, by Allen Thomson, updated August 7, 2013. "The French GRAVES system (Grande Réseau Adapté à la Veille Spatial) is presently the only European installation outside the US SSN which can perform space surveillance in its classical sense."
• A Tutorial on Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Theory and Systems, Institute for Defense Analyses, January 2013
• Simplified Satellite Prediction from Modified Orbital Elements, National Academy of Sciences, 1 January 1959
• The Altay Optical-Laser Center Sourcebook by Allen Thomson, updated March 29, 2011
• A Sourcebook for the Use of the FGAN Tracking and Imaging Radar for Satellite Imaging by Allen Thomson, updated April 22, 2012
• A GEODSS Sourcebook by Allen Thomson, updated October 19, 2008
• DOPLOC: A Selection of Historical Items on Radiometric Tracking compiled by Allen Thomson
• The Navy Space Surveillance System, R.L. Easton and J.J. Fleming, Proceedings of the IRE, 1960
• Revisiting Spacetrack Report #3 by David A. Vallado, Paul Crawford, Richard Hujsak, and T.S. Kelso, AIAA 2006-6753
• A Sourcebook on the Use of the MU Radar for Satellite Tracking by Allen Thomson, September 2006
• The Q-2004: The Use of Videography in Tracking Earth Satellites by Greg Roberts (1.8 MB PDF file)
• Monitoring Space -- Efforts Made by European Countries by H. Klinkrad
• Navy Space Surveillance System, budget justification, February 2003
• The Naval Space Command Automatic Differential Correction Process by D.A. Danielson, et al
• COBRA TALON, COBRA SPOT, from Allen Thomson, December 9, 2003
• Could Columbia have been imaged by a KeyHole? by Ted Molczan, February 17, 2003
• STS 107 Mystery Object by Ted Molczan, March 4, 2003
• AMOS Imagery of Space Shuttle Columbia During STS-107
• Space Surveillance and Tracking System, Fact Sheet, October 2002
• The Naval Space Surveillance System, Fact Sheet, September 2002
• SPAWAR Awards Space Surveillance System Contract, September 2002
• A Space Surveillance Ontology, MITRE, October 2000
• Space Surveillance Ontology Captured in an XML Schema, Daniel M. Brandsma, MITRE, May 23, 2001
• Modernizing the Naval Space Surveillance System (PDF), NRL briefing, 1999
• Human Machine Interface Incidents: The SPADOC 4C Story
• US Naval Space Command Space Surveillance System (Allen Thomson)
• NAVAL SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER NAVSPACECOM / N32 Brief
• THE RADAR ROADMAP Electronic Trajectory Measurements Group, Range Commanders Council, DOCUMENT 260-98 - SEPTEMBER 1998

Other Tracking Activities

See Sat Imaging Satellites in Space From the Ground

BlackBird Hunting

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