CubeSat-Based Passive Bistatic Radar for Space Situational Awareness: A Feasibility Study

• Published in: IEEE transactions on aerospace and electronic systems 2019-02, Vol.55 (1), p.476-485
• Main Authors: Persico, Adriano Rosario, Kirkland, Paul, Clemente, Carmine, Soraghan, John J., Vasile, Massimiliano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Circular orbits; Cubesat; CubeSat-based radar; Feasibility studies; forward scattering (FS); Illuminators; Low altitude; Low earth orbits; Multistatic radar; Object recognition; passive bistatic radar (PBR); Performance measurement; Radar; Radar cross-sections; Radar imaging; Radar tracking; Radio signals; Receivers; Receivers & amplifiers; Satellite tracking; Situational awareness; Space debris; Space debris mitigation; space situational awareness; space-borne radar; Spaceborne radar; Visibility
• ISSN: 0018-9251; 1557-9603
• DOI: 10.1109/TAES.2018.2848340

This paper proposes a low budget solution to detect and possibly track space debris and satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The concept consists of a space-borne radar installed on a cubeSat flying at low altitude and detecting the occultations of radio signals coming from existing satellites flying at higher altitudes. The paper investigates the feasibility and performance of such a passive bistatic radar system. Key performance metrics considered in this paper are: the minimum size of detectable objects, considering visibility and frequency constraints on existing radio sources, the receiver size, and the compatibility with current cubeSat's technology. Different illuminator types and receiver altitudes are considered under the assumption that all illuminators and receivers are on circular orbits.