A space-based microwave radar concept

Author

Chakraborty, D.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

40

Issue

6

fYear

1992

fDate

6/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1081

Lastpage

1089

Abstract

A space-based microwave radar (SBR) concept is defined using a tether trans/receive antenna supported between two gravity gradient low Earth-orbiting satellites. A cluster of four tether antennas, each of 6 km maximum length and 1.5 km separation between tethers, constitutes a radar. A system of 8 to 11 such clusters constitutes the overall radar scheme, which will cover approximately one third of the Earth´s surface for detecting sea-based targets. Issues identified are the array structure, the coherence of tethered arrays, grating lobe energy clamping, clutter effects, communications, system requirements, and the overall radar system concept, including stability considerations. The baseline definition of an alternate space-based radar scheme is presented. A significant amount of R&D efforts will be required to derive practical solutions of the proposed scheme

Keywords

antenna arrays; artificial satellites; radar antennas; radar systems; 1.5 km; 6 km; array structure; baseline definition; clutter effects; coherence of tethered arrays; communications; grating lobe energy clamping; gravity gradient low Earth-orbiting satellites; overall radar system concept; radar scheme; sea-based targets; space-based microwave radar; stability; system requirements; tether antennas; trans/receive antenna; Clamps; Earth; Gratings; Gravity; Radar antennas; Radar detection; Receiving antennas; Satellites; Sea surface; Spaceborne radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.141339

Filename

141339