On February 16,2021,an artificial object moving slowly over the Mediterranean was recorded by the Spanish Meteor Network(SPMN).Based on astrometric measurements,we identified this event as the reentry engine burn of a...On February 16,2021,an artificial object moving slowly over the Mediterranean was recorded by the Spanish Meteor Network(SPMN).Based on astrometric measurements,we identified this event as the reentry engine burn of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle’s upper stage.To study this event in detail,we adapted the plane intersection method for near-straight meteoroid trajectories to analyze the slow and curved orbits associated with artificial objects.To corroborate our results,we approximated the orbital elements of the upper stage using four pieces of“debris”cataloged by the U.S.Government’s Combined Space Operations Center.Based on these calculations,we also estimated the possible deorbit hazard zone using the MSISE90 model atmosphere.We provide guidance regarding the interference that these artificial bolides may generate in fireball studies.Additionally,because artificial bolides will likely become more frequent in the future,we point out the new role that ground-based detection networks can play in the monitoring of potentially hazardous artificial objects in near-Earth space and in determining the strewn fields of artificial space debris.展开更多
基金This research was supported by the research project(Grant No.PGC2018-097374-B-I00,PI:JMT-R)which is funded by FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación.This project has also received funding from the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme(Grant No.865657)for the project“Quantum Chemistry on Interstellar Grains”(QUANTUMGRAIN)We also express appreciation for the valuable video recordings obtained from Benicàssim(Castellón)by Vicent Ibanez(AVAMET).
文摘On February 16,2021,an artificial object moving slowly over the Mediterranean was recorded by the Spanish Meteor Network(SPMN).Based on astrometric measurements,we identified this event as the reentry engine burn of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle’s upper stage.To study this event in detail,we adapted the plane intersection method for near-straight meteoroid trajectories to analyze the slow and curved orbits associated with artificial objects.To corroborate our results,we approximated the orbital elements of the upper stage using four pieces of“debris”cataloged by the U.S.Government’s Combined Space Operations Center.Based on these calculations,we also estimated the possible deorbit hazard zone using the MSISE90 model atmosphere.We provide guidance regarding the interference that these artificial bolides may generate in fireball studies.Additionally,because artificial bolides will likely become more frequent in the future,we point out the new role that ground-based detection networks can play in the monitoring of potentially hazardous artificial objects in near-Earth space and in determining the strewn fields of artificial space debris.
