REENTRY PHENOMENA OBSERVED USING HIGH-FREQUENCY RADAR
Abstract
The Madre radar has been deployed in an over-the-horizon mode to study reentry phenomena associated with Athena-boosted reentry experiments at the White Sands Missile Range and with reentering manned earth satellites of the Gemini type. Preliminary results indicate the feasibility of using hf radars for over-the-horizon detection of reentry bodies. Examination of the results of a White Sands Missile Range reentry experiment demonstrates the advantage of velocity-time processing in the discrimination of multiple targets with various reentry characteristics. A cross-section assessment is made. The analysis of the Gemini Titan-5 reentry makes available coarse capsule position information during reentry blackout at ranges beyond the line of sight. Measurable target cross sections are extracted. Approximate vehicle velocity may be determined from the doppler-time records. Real-time acceleration processing would allow detections of smaller target cross sections.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 10, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0379893
Entities
People
- C. B. Tesauro
- F. H. Utley
- G. A. Skaggs
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory