XGEO Space Object Catalog

Browse catalog

Methodology

General Outline

  1. Suspected ArtSat observations from cislunar space are checked everyday for updates.
  2. Data Association I: Observations are compared with available catalogs (USSPACECOM and internal) to filter out known objects from potential new objects.
  3. Data Association II: The observations that match known objects in the current USSPACECOM catalog are removed while those that match up with objects already in XGEOCat are used to update their orbit information.
  4. Orbits are computed for each potentially new object and cross-correlated to ensure uniqueness.
  5. New IDs are then assigned to objects that cannot be matched with any others and they are added to XGEOCat. The updated catalog is then republished in VerSSA.
graph1Daily ObservationsComparisonCatalogsMatchFiltersXGEOCATCATALOGNewObject/IDIdentificationUSSPACECOM Objects

Uncertainty Monitoring

A separate process keeps track of maintaining accurate and up to date orbital information for objects already in the catalog. This process watches meta information about each object (orbit determination residuals, number of observations, time since last observation, etc) to warn when an object is at risk of being lost or needs follow up observations. If desired, notifications can be sent via email, SMS, Slack, or other convenient means with a list of targets and upcoming observation opportunities customized to different observers.

todeleteObservationsComparisonXGEOCATHIGH RISKPRIORITORIZEDOBSERVATIONSLISTLow risk