<h2>AAS  96-214</h2><h2>GEOSYNCHRONOUS SURVEILLANCE WITH A SPACE-BASED SENSOR</h2><h4>R. Sridharan and W. F. Burnham, Lincoln Laboratory</h4><h2> Abstract </h2>A space-based visible wavelength sensor on board the MSX spacecraft is being used to demonstrate space-based space surveillance. The geosynchronous orbit "belt" is heavily populated. A ground-based sensor can cover only a part of the belt. But with the SBV, the entire geosynchronous belt is accessible with one sensor. This paper will illustrate the fundamental difference between ground-based and space-based sensors for geosynchronous surveillance. Further it will be shown that data can be collected on a significant fraction of high altitude orbit satellites thus enhancing the utility of the sensor. <br><br>