Program for Electro-Optical Aerospace Surveillance Supported by Work at Cloudcroft Electro-Optical Experimental Station.

摘要

The document presents a program for acquisition and improvement of images of orbiting objects. Program elements describe the development of techniques, methods, and equipment to acquire still better imagery. This goal was approached in three basic ways: (1) attempts at recording with laser illumination, (2) standard recording with the best electro-optical equipment, and (3) image processing of all imagery recorded. Active laser experiments have been continuous throughout this contract and were directed at horizontal path recording of a billboard and vertical path recording of a target aircraft. The exact charting of the laser intensity pattern in near and far field is continuing and will provide more exact intensity pattern information so that atmospheric perturbations can be accurately determined. Calibration of the telescope and its related optics is prime in approaching optimized performance for imaging. A focal reducer has been designed to provide an f/2.5 setting on the telescope. The additional light over the normal f/6.5 will permit faster exposures or use of finer-grain film. Zoom optics are being designed to provide infinite settings from f/6.5 to f/64 and beyond. This will provide a 22:1 zoom and eliminate inferior relay optics permitting optimization of f/number for every condition. (Author)