Obtaining Optical Images of LEO Space Objects during Satellite Monitoring on the Crossing Courses

. The possibilities of using space sensors to obtain images of LEO space objects with the linear resolution at the level of 10–20 cm are considered in the article. A combined simulation of the passive orbital movement on time intervals of one and two years of a subset of LEO space objects and a hypothetical space sensor for various inclinations of its orbit is carried out. The statistics of rendezvous at the flight on the crossing courses of the space sensor with space objects is calculated on the distances about tens of kilometers taking into account the restriction for the maximum phase angle of observation (an angle: Sun–object–sensor) and the conditions of the lack of the Earth’s background. It is shown that one space sensor in a passive flight can carry out photography from the distances no more than 50 km within one year — not less than 80 %, within two years — not less than 90% of the space objects of interest. The basic principles of the operation of the space sensor are formulated. It is offered to use a sweeping method applied in the space systems of Earth remote sensing for the realization of such principles. The features and difficulties of the application of this method for photography of the space objects, which are flying by with big angular speeds, are considered. The option of the shape of the retargeted controlled on-board optoelectronic camera with the instrumental resolution at the level of 0.4 angular seconds for the space sensor to obtain images of space objects at the flight on the crossing courses is presented.