Ionospheric Effects Related to the Performance of an Orbital Debris Radar System,
Abstract
An orbital debris radar system is designed to detect the presence of small objects in low earth orbit by reflecting radio waves off of the objects. Free electrons and ions contained in the ionosphere cause incoherent scatter of the radar signal. This ionospheric reflection tends to increase the noise at the terrestrial radar receiver. A parameter called the ionospheric scattering cross section per unit volume, which is a function of altitude, is useful for computing the power of the ionospheric reflected signal. The doppler frequency spread of the ionospheric reflected signal is a function of altitude, also. The ionospheric noise of a 9 GHz orbital debris radar receiver is computed using these concepts. Annual and diurnal variations of the noise are included.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADP006294
Entities
People
- Dennis F. Bishop
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology