Research

Astronomy & Space Sciences

Title :

Space debris RCS estimation and dynamics characterisation from MOTR space debris tracked data

Area of research :

Astronomy & Space Sciences

Focus area :

Radar Data Processing

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Multi Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) is an L-Band Active Phased Array Radar designed to track multiple targets. It is a long range skin mode tracking radar capable of tracking 0.25m2 RCS target up to a range of 1000km. MOTR can track more than 10 simultaneous targets using single agile beam. MOTR is the first sensor in India capable of tracking space debris up to an altitude of 800 km. MOTR has tracked and catalogued nearly 54 different space objects from an altitude of 400 to 900km which includes spent down stages of launch vehicles, debris, space station like ISS, Tiangong and live satellites. MOTR tracked the space objects in skin mode. Studying the received signal from the target gives us the information of the target like its dynamics spin, its size and RCS. These characteristics of the debris need to be catalogued, to compute its drag coefficient, and its life time assessment.

Co-PI:

Shri A.Vaidhyanathan, Satish Dhawan Space Centre- SHAR (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota

Organizations involved