Prototype Radar
A critical aspect of ESA's SSA activities during the 2009-11 Preparatory Phase will be the development of technical plans and specifications for a future surveillance radar system, to be located in a participating Member State.
The future SSA radar must be capable of surveying objects down to 5cm size in all orbits around Earth.
Concurrently, a 'breadboard' test-bench radar system will be developed. Essentially, this will comprise a low-power engineering model of the future system that can be used to demonstrate, trial and validate the future radar's required scanning, tracking, identification and cataloguing capabilities.
In parallel, the SSA team are also assessing the requirements and solutions for optical surveillance, using both stations on the ground and mounted on future satellites in orbit.
While radar technology works most efficiently for the surveillance of objects in low-earth, medium-earth, and highly elliptical orbits (LEO, MEO, HEO), optical surveillance works best for objects in geostationary orbit (GEO).
Prototype radar developments in 2009-11
With the crucial support of European industry, ESA is now conducting initial design studies, technical assessments and defining radar site selection criteria. In 2010 and continuing in 2011, these activities include:
- Analysis and simulation of the main radar components
- 'Bread-boarding' design and development of the demonstrator SSA radar
- SSA radar site analysis and selection (for both the initial breadboard test model and the final radar)
- Initial preparation of the selected site (physical site preparation, access, utilities, telecom links, etc.)
- Data centre and software development
The SSA team are also implementing a similar set of engineering studies for a future optical surveillance system, including analysis and simulation of potential optical telescope designs and research into a space-based optical telescope network.
Site selection, frequency allocation
For the SSA radar, location is critical.
In fact, the factors and requirements that apply to building the SSA radar are similar to those that apply when building a satellite tracking station, such as ESA's 35m deep space antenna stations located at New Norcia, Australia; Cebreros, Spain; and Malargüe, Argentina (now under construction).
In both cases the transmitting antenna must have a clear field of view; there must be no local geographical obstructions; the site must be away from population centres to avoid radio signal interference with, for example, mobile phones; the site must have reliable utilities, power supply and road access; and the transmitting and receiving frequencies must be reserved for long-term use (typically more than 20 years).
As a result, SSA radar site selection will be a major undertaking, and include extensive consultations with national, local and regional authorities and, especially, national telecom regulators.
Milestones 2009-2011
During the Preparatory Phase, the radar and optical development activities are expected to achieve a number of key milestones. These include:
For radar site selection and preparation
- March 2010: Start radar site selection and preparation activity
- September 2010: Radar site(s) selection
- October 2010: Frequency coordination with radar site authorities
- June 2011: Radar site(s) preparation completion
For radar demonstrator development
- May 2010: Start radar breadboard development
- October 2010: Breadboard final design
- October 2011: Demonstrator final site acceptance
for optical telescope analysis
- May 2010: Start optical telescope analysis and design activity
- May 2011: Optical telescope design completion
- May 2011: Space-based optical telescopes component design
Last update: 22 March 2011
Rate this
Views
Share
- Currently 0 out of 5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Rating: 0/5 (0 votes cast)Thank you for rating!
You have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!
Your rating has been changed, thanks for rating!