caa a22 4500 606244972 CHVBK 20210128101333.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150901xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s12567-015-0085-1 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s12567-015-0085-1 Theoretical analysis of south-staring Beampark configurations for the TIRA system [Elektronische Daten] [S. Flegel, K. Letsch, H. Krag] The tracking and imaging radar (TIRA) L-band radar of the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques(FHR) in Wachtberg has been used since 1993 for the conduction of space debris measurement campaigns, called Beampark experiments (BPE). The results from BPEs are used for the regular validation of statistical debris models such as ESA's MASTER model. It is an experimental radar system which is employed among other things in the frame of BPEs. In these experiments, the line-of-sight (LOS) of the radar is fixed at a defined direction and measurements are taken for 24h. The aim of these campaigns is to obtain statistical information on the state of the space debris environment in Low Earth Orbit. BPEs are typically conducted in mono-static east-staring mode. The aim of the current paper is to gain an overview of how the measurement results of mono-static BPEs using TIRA are influenced by the direction of the LOS with a focus on south-staring BPEs. The analysis is purely theoretical and employs ESA's Program for Radar and Optical Observation Forecasting (PROOF-2009). The paper starts out with a look at the range window as a function of the LOS elevation which is required to cover LEO altitudes up to 2000km. This information is required to determine the minimum allowed pulse repetition interval necessary to obtain unambiguous range information. In a next step, 24h BPEs are simulated covering azimuth angles between 0° and 360° and elevation angles between 10° and 90°. Looking at the number of crossings and detections at various object sizes, orbit types and debris sources allows an assessment of specific LOS orientations. Due to the relatively high latitude of the sensor at about 50° north, debris at low inclinations can only be detected if the radar's LOS is directed due south. The lower the LOS elevation is, the more objects on low inclination orbits will cross TIRA's beam. A low LOS elevation however requires an extended range window to cover the same altitude region. This leads to an increase of the minimum detectable object size with respect to altitude which is additionally aggravated by the limitation of the maximum transmit power at low elevations for reasons of electromagnetic compatibility. A trade-off study is performed to determine the most favorable LOS elevation setting for a south-staring BPE. The paper closes with a top-level look at possible approaches to decreasing the detectable object size for south-staring BPEs. CEAS, 2015 TIRA nationallicence Space debris nationallicence Beampark experiment nationallicence South-staring nationallicence Flegel S. Radar for Space Observation, Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR), Fraunhoferstr. 20, 53343, Wachtberg, Germany aut Letsch K. Radar for Space Observation, Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR), Fraunhoferstr. 20, 53343, Wachtberg, Germany aut Krag H. Space Debris Office, ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany aut CEAS Space Journal Springer Vienna 7/3(2015-09-01), 375-387 1868-2502 7:3<375 2015 7 12567 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-015-0085-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-015-0085-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Flegel S. Radar for Space Observation, Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR), Fraunhoferstr. 20, 53343, Wachtberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Letsch K. Radar for Space Observation, Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR), Fraunhoferstr. 20, 53343, Wachtberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Krag H. Space Debris Office, ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- CEAS Space Journal Springer Vienna 7/3(2015-09-01), 375-387 1868-2502 7:3<375 2015 7 12567