Space-borne radar detection of orbital debris

Orbital debris in low-Earth-orbit (LEG) poses an increasing threat to the Space Station Freedom (SSF). A combined ground-based/on-orbit radar detection system can provide adequate warning to minimize the collision threat. The paper discusses the unique features on an on-board radar, its contributions to solving the problem, simulation results from modeling of atmospheric effects, and their perturbations upon propagation of debris trajectories, and associated effects of "time-staleness" of orbital parameters of the debris particles.<
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