Photometric method for determing degradation surface of a geostationary object

Abstract

We propose a new method of using photometric data for determining the degradation of the optical parameters of the GSS surface since the GSS’s active operation in orbit. Experimental data on changes in the coefficients of spectral reflection (degradation) of the surface of several geostationary satellites with different types of space platforms over several years are presented. Data were obtained from ground-based photometric observations in filters B, V, and R. Among studied satellites, there are “stra 2E” (bus Eurostar-3000), “zerspace 2/Intelsat 38” (bus SSL-1300), “Sicral 2” (bus Spacebus-4000B2), “Сosmos 2520/Blagovest 11L” (bus Ekspress-2000). It was revealed that the nature of the change in the surface reflectivity for the different satellites differs. Space materials on the surface of geostationary satellites manufactured in the second decade of the 21^st century demonstrate that their surface is more resistant to the aggressive space environment than that of the satellites manufactured in the late 20^th century. Methods for determining the type of space material and its color in different spectral bands using multicolor photometric observations are proposed. As a continuation or addition to the laboratory method, the authors propose to use the results of ground-based multicolor photometric observations to determine the degree of degradation of the spacecraft’s surface.