[amsat-bb] Satellite Catalog Growth

[Stewart Todd Morgan]

Although I have never had the chance to attend, the NOAA/SWPC Space 
Weather Workshops always have some interesting presentations, and PDFs 
of slides for many presentations are available to the public. One 
presentation at the 2017 event was titled "Satellite Tracking and 
Collision Avoidance (DOD)" by Capt. Fred Schmidt.  It has an interesting 
graphic showing satellite catalog growth (page 18) since 1961:

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/u33/%281640%29%20JSpOC%20Ops_Conjunction%20Assessment_Schmidt.pdf

Even though the commercial space age is just beginning, the skies are 
already a crowded place.  It's also interesting that a substantial 
percentage of objects are of "unknown" designation.

Workshop presentations for this year and previous years are available here:

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/annual-meeting

Todd
AL0I