An analysis of very short-arc orbit determination for low-Earth objects using sparse optical and laser tracking data

•Only 2 short 5s optical and laser tracks needed for good debris orbit prediction.•If either 2D angles or 1D range data is neglected the results are unreliable.•TLE data fusion improves the convergence rate and accuracy of the 1D and 2D cases.•Results may lead to less tracking effort in a debris laser tracking network.