Remote Operation and Calibration Challenges in Ground-Based NEO Tracking: a Case Study of the Mount Abu 43cm Telescope

Near-Earth Object (NEO) tracking is critical for planetary defense, relying primarily on ground-based optical systems. This paper focuses on the remote operation workflows and calibration challenges during the March 2024 NEO observational campaign using the Physics Research Laboratory (PRL) 43 cm telescope at Gurushikhar Observatory, Mount Abu, which was carried out by ISRO as part of planetary defense capacity building. We demonstrate how small-aperture telescopes can achieve MPC-compliant astrometry (residual RMS: 0.2″-1.35″) for NEOs like 1864 Daedalus and 1036 Ganymed, despite environmental and technical constraints. Our results underscore the viability of cost-effective ground support systems for NEO surveillance, while identifying critical needs for future upgrades: robotic dome stabilization, GNSS time synchronization, and optimized scheduling. This work provides actionable insights for leveraging the capabilities of small telescopes in global planetary defense networks.