Ground based optics at RTS include tracking instruments, ballistic cameras, spectral cameras, documentary photography, and Closed Circuit Television systems. Four optics sites around the atoll provide outstanding geometry for the triangulation required for precise trajectory reconstruction, accurate kill assessment, and miss distance estimation to less than 25 centimeters.

Two RADOT and five SuperRADOT sites at RTS provide an wide variety of cameras and lenses including video and 35mm and 70mm motion picture cameras with apertures up to 24 inches and focal lengths from 100 to 240 inches. Film rates range from 90 to 2500 frames per second. The extremely agile mounts support TMD requirements with slew rates of 60 degrees per second. The high sensitivity and resolution of these optical sensors provide both exo- and endo-atmospheric metric data collection.

The RTS Optical Sensor suite is completed with a number of fixed camera systems including BC4 Ballistic Plate Cameras, Spectral Ballistic Plate Cameras, Fixed camera towers and Closed Circuit Television.

The table below illustrates the available fields of view for various camera and lens combinations.

Ballistic Plate Camera
The BC4 Ballistic Plate Camera is a highly accurate photometric still camera used primarily to provide precise position versus time data for reentry vehicles. Accuracy is achieved by using stellar calibration techniques.

BC4 images are recorded on optically flat photographic glass plates. A system of four fiducials is incorporated to accurately define the center of the field of view. Long focal length, low distortion lenses provide resolutions of 50 lines/mm in the center and 25 lines/mm at the edges of the plate.

Spectral Ballistic Camera
RTS maintains four Spectral Ballistic Cameras for qualitative spectral measurements. Each camera uses a 350 mm lens with an attached diffraction grating to provide spectral separation of the recorded trace. Gratings with 300 lines/mm and 150 lines/mm are available.

Fixed Camera Stations are emplaced at Roi-Namur, Meck Island, and Illeginni Island. These camera stations provide comprehensive photo and video coverage of RTS missile launches and land-impact events. The towers can accommodate a mix of 35mm and 70mm motion picture and video cameras. The specific combination of deployed assets is tailored to the immediate mission requirements.

Camera running times for the 35mm and 70mm cameras are illustrated in the charts.

Closed Circuit Television equipment is used to fulfill a wide variety of requirements throughout the Atoll. At Meck and Illeginni, the equipment is used on the fixed camera stations; at Roi-Namur, the systems are used to monitor rocket launches and to document build up and safety in the launch area; on Kwajalein the systems are used to monitor sounding rocket launches and provide engineering evaluation. Most systems use commercial vidicon tubes although low-light-level Silicon Intensified Target cameras are available.