KOSPAW Test bed—A Phased Array Radar for Space Situational Awareness

Recently, the number of space objects has increased exponentially leading to a possibility of an increase in the number of space hazards; therefore, the Space Situational Awareness Program based on radars is currently being developed to counteract these events. The Korea Space Surveillance Active Phased Array Radar Window (KOSPAW) test bed is being developed to test radar technology in a phased array and detect radar cross section (RCS) of 5 m
²
for space objects at an altitude of 750 km. The designed radar can effectively operate in tracking and searching modes. This paper describes the results of the operational test of a KOSPAW to verify the sensitivity of space objects in the characteristics of the satellite catalogs and relative range and velocity from the propagated orbits of the TLE. In this study, methods, such as increasing the number of arrays and the transmission power, to improve the number of space objects detected are proposed, and the number of predicted space objects is confirmed. In addition, design improvements are made and the operating modes are simulated. The KOSAPW test bed will be tested in 2023 by technically verifying the accessibility of its components.