A Space Debris-Dedicated Channel for the P-Band Receiver of the Sardinia Radio Telescope: A Detailed Description and Characterization
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
MUNTONI, GIACOMO
•
SCHIRRU , LUCA
•
MONTISCI, GIORGIO
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Abstract
Space debris (SD) is an important problem for space operations and a hot topic for space surveillance research. A structured network of radar sensors is available worldwide, offering vital information about debris status. Recently, the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT), a 64-m dish located in Sardinia, Italy, was introduced in the European plan for SD monitoring. Because the SRT is devoted to radio astronomy applications and is not optimized for SD echo detection, the need for an SD-dedicated channel has emerged. In this article, we present a detailed description and characterization of the new P-band receiving chain for SRT’s space
debris-monitoring purposes. As a test of its capabilities, the new channel was used to detect the echoes that emanated from the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 when it reentered Earth’s atmosphere on its latest mission.
Volume
62
Issue
3
Start page
45
Issn Identifier
1045-9243
Ads BibCode
2020IAPM...62c..45M
Rights
restricted
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
IEEE_A&P_A_space_debris_june_2020.pdf
Description
[Administrators only]
Size
5.56 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
7d8144591fb25bd657f0784a83891dcb