High Resolution of Ground Microwave Radar System for Monitoring of Space Debris

The article considers the issues of obtaining high resolution of objects in a promising ground-based radar. The radar will be designed to monitor space debris. Estimates of the system's range resolution, and estimates of the angular and transverse coordinate resolutions (achieved due to the directional properties of the antenna) are given. It is shown that an increase in the antenna size leads to an increase in angular resolution. However, at the altitudes of near-Earth orbits, high angular resolution does not provide high transverse coordinate resolution. To increase the resolution, the possibility of switching to inverse synthesis of the antenna aperture is considered. The transition to synthesis is based on taking into account the peculiarities of the nature of space debris movement. Estimates of the resolution in a system with aperture synthesis are given. The features and difficulties of synthesis are noted. To increase the resolution of the system, another way is considered in the report. This way is the transition to a multi-position radar. Radar receivers can be located on the Earth's surface and, possibly, on space satellites. A separate section in the report is devoted to the influence of the Earth's atmosphere on radar operation. Information is provided on an experimental study of the atmosphere in a number of promising locations for the placement of a microwave radio telescope and radar on the territory of Russia.