• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2019

The Optical Wide-field patroL-Network (OWL-Net) is a Korean optical space surveillance system used to track and monitor objects in space. In this study, the characteristics of four Initial Orbit Determination (IOD) methods were analyzed using artificial observational data from Low Earth Orbit satellites, and an appropriate IOD method was selected for use as the initial value of Precise Orbit Determination using OWL-Net data. Various simulations were performed according to the properties of observational data, such as noise level and observational time interval, to confirm the characteristics of the IOD methods. The IOD results produced via the OWL-Net observational data were then compared with Two Line Elements data to verify the accuracy of each IOD method. This paper, thus, suggests the best method for IOD, according to the properties of angles-only data, for use even when the ephemeris of a satellite is unknown.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2019

The Optical Wide-field patroL-Network (OWL-Net) is a global optical network for Space Situational Awareness in Korea. The primary operational goal of the OWL-Net is to track Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites operated by Korea and to monitor the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) region near the Korean peninsula. To obtain dense measurements on LEO tracking, the chopper system was adopted in the OWL-Net's back-end system. Dozens of angle-only measurements can be obtained for a single shot with the observation mode for LEO tracking. In previous work, the reduction process of the LEO tracking data was presented, along with the mechanical specification of the back-end system of the OWL-Net. In this research, we describe an integrity assessment method of time-position matching and verification of results from real observations of LEO satellites. The change rate of the angle of each streak in the shot was checked to assess the results of the matching process. The time error due to the chopper rotation motion was corrected after re-matching of time and position. The corrected measurements were compared with the simulated observation data, which were taken from the Consolidated Prediction File from the International Laser Ranging Service. The comparison results are presented in the In-track and Cross-track frame.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.61.1-61.1
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• 2021

OWL-Net (Optical Wide-field patroL Network) is the first space situational awareness facility of its kind in South Korea which consists of five identical 0.5 m wide-field telescopes with 4K by 4K CCDs. The five stations are located in Mongolia, Morocco, Israel, United States, and South Korea. They are being operated in fully autonomous mode with the minimum human intervention. The primary objective of OWL-Net is to track Korean domestic satellites. In addition, it can be possible to conduct time-series photometry of bright solar system objects. We will present the system overview of the OWL-Net telescopes and progress report.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2015

As a governmentally approved domestic entity for Space Situational Awareness, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) is developing and operating an optical telescopes system, Optical Wide-field PatroL (OWL) Network. During the test phase of this system, it is necessary to determine the range of brightness of the observable satellites. We have defined standard magnitude for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to calibrate their luminosity in terms of standard parameters such as distance, phase angle, and angular rate. In this work, we report the optical brightness range of five LEO Satellites using OWL-Net.