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Abstract

A system is described for locating the barycenter of at least one object orbiting in space, such as for example space debris, adapted to allow the physical and mechanical characterization of the identified object, comprising: at least one remote sensor (1) placed on board a station (2) adapted to detect the space coordinates of certain points (Pi) belonging to the identified object (3), with respect to a space reference system; first means for acquiring data related to positions assumed in time by the points (Pi) for reconstructing the trajectory followed by the points (Pi); second means for determining the instantaneous rotation axes of the identified objects associated with the trajectory, for determining a segment perpendicular to each pair of the instantaneous rotation axes in a sequence and for locating the mean point of the segment; and third means for computing a discrete function d(tk) of the length of the segments, for computing an envelope curve (c) of the local maxima of the discrete function d(tk) and for determining the minimum of the envelope curve (c) for locating the barycenter G(tk*) of the identified object. A process of physical and mechanical characterization of the identified object through the system is further described.

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