THE OPPORTUNITIES OF NATIONAL GROUND-BASED OPTICAL SPACE SURVEILLANCE ASSETS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article presents the possibilities of the national ground-based optical space surveillance assets for the conduct of complex optical observations of military and dual-use purpose satellites of the Russian Federation in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The results of the complex observations of geostationary (GSO) military and dual-purpose satellites of the Russian Federation are illustrated by the examples of the «Luch-Olimp» (2014-058A) military reconnaissance multipurpose telecom satellite and the dual-purpose meteosat «Electro-L» №1 (2011-001А). Carrying out of complex optical observations of space objects in the visible part of the GSO orbital belt (the far operational strategic space zone) provide operational monitoring of military-space systems of intelligence, communications, combat control and retransmission, early detection and warning of missile launches. Comprehensive analysis, analytical processing and comparison of the results of observations of space objects in the far operational strategic space zone with the results of monitoring of the near operational strategic space zone in which reconnaissance, navigational, topogeodetic, meteorological and manned systems are used, provides opportunities for the formation of a comprehensive operational picture of situation (above the territory of Ukraine in particular) and the early disclosure of the enemy's plan. The actual data received will allow the relevant analytical units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, based on demagogic signs and peculiarities of the use of satellite and their clusters, to draw conclusions about the likely locations (objects, districts, directions) of the enemy's interest and the likely targets for the use of high-precision armament and missile-guided high-precision weapons. Skillful and effective use of the above-mentioned actual information in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will allow to reduce personnel losses, to preserve weapons and military equipment, to determine in advance the intentions of the enemy, rather than, in general, to carry out more effective counteraction to the enemy. Involvement of national optical observation assets for complex observations of the enemy's spacecraft and their clusters allows to provide effective monitoring of the operational environment in the near-Earth space in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Keywords

• space surveillance and monitoring
• space environment analysis
• satellite
• geostationary orbit
• comprehensive and targeted surveillance
• photometric observations
• positional observations