An Advanced Space Surveillance System
Abstract
Requirements for a space surveillance system are now being generated by the various unified and specified commands. While details remain to be determined, in general it may be stated that the requirements express a need for three categories of coverage: (a) early detection, (b) coverage of low inclinations, and (c) coverage at extreme altitudes. A minimum-cost, space surveillance system which provides early orbit determination of all satellites out to nearly 30,000 nautical miles is described. The system consists of U.S. installations, to provide refined orbital data on most known satellites, and special installations, to provide data on orbital elements of new satellites and special orbits. The special installations would be located on islands in the Pacific and Caribbean to provide extended longitude coverage and to provide equatorial coverage for both low-period and 24-hour-period orbits. The detection device described utilizes high-powered, continuous-wave transmitters, fixed antennas, a nonambiguous ranging technique, and precise determination of angles to give a good orbit (error in period approx. 0.1%) for satellites above 350 nautical miles (seen by two stations) and a less accurate orbit for satellites below that altitude seen by one station (error in period 0.1% to 1%). The proposed initial installation at Truk-Ponape and in Florida provides 30,000-mile coverage for the island installation and lower latitude coverage for the U.S. experimental installation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 1961
- Accession Number
- ADA489586
Entities
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory