Space Object Tracking from the Robotic Optical Observatory at RMIT University

Abstract

The proliferation of space debris in recent decades has driven the aerospace research community to develop novel methods of data collection, fusion, and statistical inference in order to catalog and characterize the growing population of objects. This research is often facilitated by affordable, small-aperture telescopes that allow universities and other institutions to develop and test new algorithms to achieve space situational awareness objectives. This paper describes the installation of a new 0.4m telescope at RMIT University near Melbourne, Australia, as part of a joint project with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Arizona. An overview of the system hardware and software is provided, as well as the results of photometric data analysis from the first operational\ncampaign conducted earlier this year. The paper further outlines opportunities for STEM outreach with local schools and concludes with a discussion of next steps and future research applications to be undertaken with the telescope.