Abstract: An apparatus on a satellite includes a standard fixed-path Michelson interferometer. The Michelson interferometer includes an input, at least one first output detector, and at least one second output detector. The Michelson interferometer includes a plurality of respective fields of view and a corresponding plurality of scanning azimuthal angles relative to a satellite velocity vector. The plurality of respective fields of view corresponds to a plurality of tangent points with constant tangent point height arranged around an Earth horizon circle. The apparatus includes an attitude determination and control system on the satellite, or an actuator on the satellite. The apparatus includes an input mirror and/or input optics in optical communication with the input of the Michelson interferometer.

Abstract: In a geolocation method and/or apparatus, a plurality of satellites is provided in a fixed Earth-Sun coordinate system or a fixed Earth-moon coordinate system. Two respective radio frequency band signals of the plurality of respective radio frequency band signals are received by at least one receiver from at least two satellites of the plurality of satellites, the at least one receiver comprising at least one respective geolocation. The at least one receiver generating at least two pluralities of equal Doppler shift contours corresponding to the at least two satellites of the plurality of satellites. The at least one receiver determines the at least one respective geolocation based at least in part on a universal time and intersections of the at least two pluralities of equal Doppler shift contours. The at least one receiver outputs the at least one respective geolocation.

Abstract: An orbital debris detection system positionable on a satellite launchable into an earth orbit includes a light source having a collimated light output, a curved mirror for receiving the collimated light output and forming a light sheet outside the satellite, and a scattered light detector for detecting a scattered light from the light sheet resulting from orbital debris intersecting the light sheet and scattering light toward the detector. The system can provide damage attribution on a space vehicle (whether it was just hit by a piece of debris), data gathering for debris models (time, location, approximate debris size, direction of trajectory) that are starved for information on small (<1 cm) debris pieces, measuring density and distribution of predominantly small (<1 cm) orbital debris in a debris cloud (e.g. a cloud that is the result of a satellite collision), and monitoring the performance of orbital debris removal efforts that target small debris.

Abstract: An orbital debris detection system positionable on a satellite launchable into an earth orbit includes a light source having a collimated light output, a curved mirror for receiving the collimated light output and forming a light sheet outside the satellite, and a scattered light detector for detecting a scattered light from the light sheet resulting from orbital debris intersecting the light sheet and scattering light toward the detector. The system can provide damage attribution on a space vehicle (whether it was just hit by a piece of debris), data gathering for debris models (time, location, approximate debris size, direction of trajectory) that are starved for information on small (<1 cm) debris pieces, measuring density and distribution of predominantly small (<1 cm) orbital debris in a debris cloud (e.g. a cloud that is the result of a satellite collision), and monitoring the performance of orbital debris removal efforts that target small debris.

Abstract: Obtaining global tropospheric vertical wind profiles by directly detecting atmospheric winds using space borne, airborne and/or ground station platforms is accomplished by a DASH interferometer in the back-end of a Doppler wind LIDAR. In the front-end of the Doppler wind LIDAR, a laser illuminates an atmosphere and a telescope collects backscattered laser light return signals from the laser illuminated atmosphere. The DASH interferometer processes return signals from the atmosphere, forming an interferogram and determines from the interferogram a Doppler shift of the return signals, which is equivalent to determining the line of sight wind speed of the Doppler wind LIDAR observation, by measuring the frequency shift caused by winds.

Abstract: A method and system of globally monitoring space weather conditions, use an imager, including one or more telescopic instruments and one or more processors, containing computer program code. The imager is configured on a platform; and positioned in the near Earth space environment, where, based on the executed computer program code, the imager compiles information about space weather conditions, by directly detecting electron emissions on a global basis. Network interfaces coupled with the imager provide, over a communications network, a plurality of communications and information, about space weather conditions, between the imager and a plurality of operational space assets and operational Earth assets. The plurality of communications and information about space weather conditions includes signals and information which automatically alert the plurality of operational space assets and operational Earth assets of effects of a solar wind.

Abstract: Obtaining global tropospheric vertical wind profiles by directly detecting atmospheric winds using space borne, airborne and/or ground station platforms is accomplished by a DASH interferometer in the back-end of a Doppler wind LIDAR. In the front-end of the Doppler wind LIDAR, a laser illuminates an atmosphere and a telescope collects backscattered laser light return signals from the laser illuminated atmosphere. The DASH interferometer processes return signals from the atmosphere, forming an interferogram and determines from the interferogram a Doppler shift of the return signals, which is equivalent to determining the line of sight wind speed of the Doppler wind LIDAR observation, by measuring the frequency shift caused by winds.

Abstract: A Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH) spectrometer includes an input aperture for receiving an input light; a collimating lens for collimating the input light into a collimated light; offset establishing means, including at least one grating, for i) receiving and splitting the collimated light into a first light wavefront in a first optical path and into a second light wavefront in a second optical path, ii) establishing an offset in a light wavefront path distance between the first and second optical path light wavefronts, and iii) diffracting and recombining the first and second optical path light wavefronts into an interference wavefront to form an interference image that includes a plurality of phase points of a heterodyned interferogram measured simultaneously over the path distance offset; and an output optics section comprising a detector for receiving the interference image and outputting an interference image pattern.

Abstract: A method and system of globally monitoring space weather conditions, use an imager, including one or more telescopic instruments and one or more processors, containing computer program code. The imager is configured on a platform; and positioned in the near Earth space environment, where, based on the executed computer program code, the imager compiles information about space weather conditions, by directly detecting electron emissions on a global basis. Network interfaces coupled with the imager provide, over a communications network, a plurality of communications and information, about space weather conditions, between the imager and a plurality of operational space assets and operational Earth assets. The plurality of communications and information about space weather conditions includes signals and information which automatically alert the plurality of operational space assets and operational Earth assets of effects of a solar wind.

Abstract: A refractive spatial heterodyne spectrometer includes an input aperture for receiving an input light; a collimating lens for collimating the input light into a collimated lightbeam; and a beamsplitter for reflecting one part of the collimated light into a first arm and transmitting another part of the collimated light into a second arm. The first arm includes a first dispersing prism for receiving and refracting the first part of the collimated light, and a first mirror positioned to reflect the refracted first collimated light back through the first dispersing prism and to the beamsplitter as a first light wavefront. The second arm includes a second dispersing prism for receiving and refracting the other part of the collimated light, and a second mirror positioned to reflect this refracted light back through the second dispersing prism and to the beamsplitter as a second light wavefront.

Abstract: The present invention provides an economically feasible robust spatial heterodyne spectroscopy (SHS) interferometer. A first type prior art monolithic SHS interferometer is exceedingly expensive, whereas a second type of prior art SHS interferometer is extremely large and has many components, which need to be tuned. The present invention is much less expensive than the first type of prior art SHS interferometer and is much smaller that the second type of prior art SHS interferometer.

Abstract: A Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH) spectrometer includes an input aperture for receiving an input light; a collimating lens for collimating the input light into a collimated light; offset establishing means, including at least one grating, for i) receiving and splitting the collimated light into a first light wavefront in a first optical path and into a second light wavefront in a second optical path, ii) establishing an offset in a light wavefront path distance between the first and second optical path light wavefronts, and iii) diffracting and recombining the first and second optical path light wavefronts into an interference wavefront to form an interference image that includes a plurality of phase points of a heterodyned interferogram measured simultaneously over the path distance offset; and an output optics section comprising a detector for receiving the interference image and outputting an interference image pattern.