Development of the Romanian Radar Sensor for Space Surveillance and Tracking Activities

Area of Science:

• Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST)
• Radar Systems Engineering
• Orbital Mechanics

Background:

• Increasing space debris poses significant risks to operational satellites and spacecraft.
• European Space Policy mandates robust space surveillance and tracking capabilities.
• A dedicated Framework for Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) Support is essential for risk assessment and collision prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce the CHEIA SST Radar, a novel space tracking sensor developed in Romania.
• Integrate the CHEIA SST Radar into the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) sensor network.
• Contribute to a unified database of space objects orbiting Earth.

Main Methods:

• Detailed design, simulation, and implementation of radar hardware and software components.
• Innovative retrofitting of existing parabolic antennas for a quasi-monostatic radar configuration.
• Utilized Low Frequency Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (LFMCW) probing signals.

Main Results:

• Preliminary design validated through extensive simulations.
• Initial operational testing in December 2021 confirmed effective performance.
• Demonstrated accurate measurement of range and radial velocity for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) objects.

Conclusions:

• The CHEIA SST Radar successfully meets design specifications for space object tracking.
• The radar is a valuable addition to the EU SST sensor network, enhancing space situational awareness.
• The retrofitting approach offers a cost-effective solution for upgrading existing infrastructure for advanced SST applications.