A new source extraction algorithm for optical space debris observation

Specific challenges arise in the task of real-time automatic data reduction of optical space debris observations. Here we present an automatic technique that optimally detects and measures the sources from images of optical space debris ob- servations. We show that highly reliable and accurate results can be obtained on most images produced by our specific sensors, and due to optimizations, the whole pipeline works fast and efficiently. Tests demonstrate that the technique performs better than SExtractor from the point of view of fast and accurate detection, therefore it is well suited for data reduction of optical space debris observations.

Space debris tracking based on fuzzy running Gaussian average adaptive particle filter track-before-detect algorithm

Although tracking with a passive optical telescope is a powerful technique for space debris observation, it is limited by its sensitivity to dynamic background noise. Traditionally, in the field of astronomy, static background subtraction based on a median image technique has been used to extract moving space objects prior to the tracking operation, as this is computationally efficient. The main disadvantage of this technique is that it is not robust to variable illumination conditions. In this article, we propose an approach for tracking small and dim space debris in the context of a dynamic background via one of the optical telescopes that is part of the space surveillance network project, named the Asia- Pacific ground-based Optical Space Observation System or APOSOS. The approach combines a fuzzy running Gaussian average for robust moving-object extraction with dim-target tracking using a particle- filter-based track-before-detect method. The performance of the proposed algorithm is experimentally evaluated, and the results show that the scheme achieves a satisfactory level of accuracy for space debris tracking.

Improved astrometry of space debris with image restoration

In order to implement an observing strategy, image degradation that occurs during optical observation of space debris is ineluctable and has distinct characteris- tics. Image restoration is presented as a way to remove the influence of degradation in CCD images of space debris, based on assumed PSF models with the same F-WHM as images of the object. In the process of image restoration, the maximum entropy method is adopted. The results of reduction using observed raw CCD images indi- cate that the precision in estimating positions of objects is improved and the effects of degradation are reduced. Improving the astrometry of space debris using image restoration is effective and feasible.

An improved astrometric calibration technique for space debris observation

An optical survey is the main technique for detecting space debris. Due to the specific character- istics of observation, the pointing errors and tracking errors of the telescope as well as image degradation may be significant, which make it difficult for astrometric calibration. Here we present an improved method that corrects the pointing and tracking errors, and measures the image position precisely. The pipeline is tested on a number of CCD images obtained from a 1-m telescope administered by Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory while observing a GPS satellite. The results show that the position measurement error of the background stars is around 0.1 pixel, while the time cost for a single frame is about 7.5 s; hence the relia- bility and accuracy of our method are demonstrated. In addition, our method shows a versatile and feasible way to perform space debris observation utilizing non-dedicated telescopes, which means more sensors could be involved and the ability to perform surveys could be improved.

Current Status and Main Scientific Outcomes of the CSES Mission

This report briefly introduces the current status of the CSES(China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite)mission which includes the first satellite CSES 01 in-orbit(launched in February 2018),and the second satellite CSES 02(will be launched in 2023)under development.The CSES 01 has been steadily operating in orbit for over four years,providing abundant global geophysical field data,including the background geomagnetic field,the electromagnetic field and wave,the plasma(in-situ and profile data),and the energetic particles in the ionosphere.The CSES 01 platform and the scientific instruments generally perform well.The data validation and calibration are vital for CSES 01,for it aims to monitor earthquakes by extracting the very weak seismic precursors from a relatively disturbing space electromagnetic environment.For this purpose,we are paying specific efforts to validate data quality comprehensively.From the CSES 01 observations,we have obtained many scientific results on the ionosphere electromagnetic environment,the seismo-ionospheric disturbance phenomena,the space weather process,and the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere coupling mechanism.

A novel repetition space-time coding scheme for mobile FSO systems

Considering the influence of more random atmospheric turbulence, worse pointing errors and highly dynamic link on the transmission performance of mobile multiple-input multiple-output （MIMO） free space optics （FSO） communica- tion systems, this paper establishes a channel model for the mobile platform. Based on the combination of Alamouti space-time code and time hopping ultra-wide band （TH-UWB） communications, a novel repetition space-time coding （RSTC） method for mobile 2x2 free-space optical communications with pulse position modulation （PPM） is devel- oped. In particular, two decoding methods of equal gain combining （EGC） maximum likelihood detection （MLD） and correlation matrix detection （CMD） are derived. When a quasi-static fading and weak turbulence channel model are considered, simulation results show that whether the channel state information （CSI） is known or not, the coding sys- tem demonstrates more significant performance of the symbol error rate （SER） than the uncoding. In other words, transmitting diversity can be achieved while conveying the information only through the time delays of the modulated signals transmitted from different antennas. CMD has almost the same effect of signal combining with maximal ratio combining （MRC）. However, when the channel correlation increases, SER performance of the coding 2×2 system de- grades significantly.

STRONG N-DISCOUNT AND FINITE-HORIZON OPTIMALITY FOR CONTINUOUS-TIME MARKOV DECISION PROCESSES

This paper studies the strong n(n =—1,0)-discount and finite horizon criteria for continuoustime Markov decision processes in Polish spaces.The corresponding transition rates are allowed to be unbounded,and the reward rates may have neither upper nor lower bounds.Under mild conditions,the authors prove the existence of strong n(n =—1,0)-discount optimal stationary policies by developing two equivalence relations:One is between the standard expected average reward and strong—1-discount optimality,and the other is between the bias and strong 0-discount optimality.The authors also prove the existence of an optimal policy for a finite horizon control problem by developing an interesting characterization of a canonical triplet.