Analysis of photometry of the "SICH-2" satellite on a multi-year observation intervals

Abstract

On August 17, 2011, a Dnipro vehicle launched the Sich-2 satellite into Earth’s orbit from the Yasny launch base. Ukrainian optical observation stations immediately began recording the satellite’s photometric light curves. In mid-2012, it was established that the Sich-2 spacecraft had a certain period of self-rotation and may have failed. This was confirmed later by official sources. Based on long-term observations of the Sich-2 artificial satellite of the Earth from Uzhgorod and Odesa, its behavior in orbit from the moment of launch until 2022 was investigated. The paper reveals the possibilities of the photometric method in combination with positional data from the research on the dynamics of the rotation of space vehicles with three degrees of freedom and complex design features of surfaces.          In the article, the authors determined that the axis of self-rotation of the Sich-2 spacecraft coincides with its vertical axis, which precesses around the direction “the center of the satellite — the center of the Earth.” It was found that a pair of opposite PSBs are placed perpendicular to each other. The calculated value of the orbital period of the satellite was P_orb= 99.5 min. and the average value of the precession period P_pr ~ 90.5 sec. The change in the period of self-rotation of the Sich-2 spacecraft was analyzed, which has changed at an interval of 9 years after destabilization in the range of P_o = 11.95…3.63…5.06 sec. It was also established that the precession period during the same time varied within Р_pr = 71.0…234.0 …226.0 sec. The angle of the precession of the axis of rotation relative to the direction from the center of the satellite to the center of the Earth is within 38°…28°.