On the detection and tracking of space debris using the Murchison Widefield Array. I. Simulations and test observations demonstrate feasibility
Abstract
The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a new low frequency interferomeric radio telescope. The MWA is the low frequency precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and is the first of three SKA precursors to be operational, supporting a varied science mission ranging from the attempted detection of the Epoch of Reionisation to the monitoring of solar flares and space weather. We explore the possibility that the MWA can be used for the purposes of Space Situational Awareness (SSA). In particular we propose that the MWA can be used as an element of a passive radar facility operating in the frequency range 87.5 - 108 MHz (the commercial FM broadcast band). In this scenario the MWA can be considered the receiving element in a bi-static radar configuration, with FM broadcast stations serving as non-cooperative transmitters. The FM broadcasts propagate into space, are reflected off debris in Earth orbit, and are received at the MWA. The imaging capabilities of the MWA can be used to simultaneously detect multiple pieces of space debris, image their positions on the sky as a function of time, and provide tracking data that can be used to determine orbital parameters. Such a capability would be a valuable addition to Australian and global SSA assets, in terms of southern and eastern hemispheric coverage. We provide a feasibility assessment of this proposal, based on simple calculations and electromagnetic simulations that shows the detection of sub-metre size debris should be possible (debris radius of >0.5 m to ~1000 km altitude). We also present a proof-of-concept set of observations that demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal, based on the detection and tracking of the International Space Station via reflected FM broadcast signals originating in south-west Western Australia. These observations broadly validate our calculations and simulations.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1308.2742,
title = {On the detection and tracking of space debris using the Murchison Widefield Array. I. Simulations and test observations demonstrate feasibility},
author = {S. J. Tingay and D. L. Kaplan and B. McKinley and F. Briggs and R. B. Wayth and N. Hurley-Walker and J. Kennewell and C. Smith and K. Zhang and W. Arcus and R. Bhat and D. Emrich and D. Herne and N. Kudryavtseva and M. Lynch and S. M. Ord and M. Waterson and D. G. Barnes and M. Bell and B. M. Gaensler and E. Lenc and G. Bernardi and L. J. Greenhill and J. C. Kasper and J. D. Bowman and D. Jacobs and J. D. Bunton and L. deSouza and R. Koenig and J. Pathikulangara and J. Stevens and R. J. Cappallo and B. E. Corey and B. B. Kincaid and E. Kratzenberg and C. J. Lonsdale and S. R. McWhirter and A. E. E. Rogers and J. E. Salah and A. R. Whitney and A. Deshpande and T. Prabu and N. Udaya Shankar and K. S. Srivani and R. Subrahmanyan and A. Ewall-Wice and L. Feng and R. Goeke and E. Morgan and R. A. Remillard and C. L. Williams and B. J. Hazelton and M. F. Morales and M. Johnston-Hollitt and D. A. Mitchell and P. Procopio and J. Riding and R. L. Webster and J. S. B. Wyithe and D. Oberoi and A. Roshi and R. J. Sault and A. Williams},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1308.2742},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
24 pages, 5 figures, accepted by The Astronomical Journal. Abstract abridged here due to character number limits