Passive Space Domain Awareness using LOFAR and Signals of Opportunity of a Non-Cooperative Radar
conference paper
Advanced Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is crucial to detect and assess dangers from space objects, especially given the increasing number of satellites and space debris. Current methods employing passive radar face challenges in detecting weak signals from space objects when using terrestrial
commercial transmitters of opportunity. This research aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to enhance SDA. To achieve this, existing signals of opportunity transmitted by a non-cooperative radar have been used for passive observations of space objects. The characteristics of the LOFAR system and the radar system are used to assess the performance (in terms of detectable bistatic RCS) using this passive configuration. It has been shown that small targets in low orbits can be detected by the LOFAR system.
commercial transmitters of opportunity. This research aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to enhance SDA. To achieve this, existing signals of opportunity transmitted by a non-cooperative radar have been used for passive observations of space objects. The characteristics of the LOFAR system and the radar system are used to assess the performance (in terms of detectable bistatic RCS) using this passive configuration. It has been shown that small targets in low orbits can be detected by the LOFAR system.
TNO Identifier
1020071
Publisher
IEEE
Source title
European Radar Conference (EuRAD) 2025
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