Space-based imaging for characterizing space objects

A method for characterizing objects in space, comprising:

• illuminating an object in space about Earth or other planetary body with a narrow band, continuous wave (CW) radio beam transmitted by a transmitting radio telescope, wherein the transmitting radio telescope comprises a phased array line feed that electronically steers the narrow band, CW radio beam;
• receiving return radio signals from the object by a plurality of receiving radio telescopes in an array, the return radio signals produced by reflection of at least a portion of the transmitted narrow band, CW radio beam by the object, the plurality of receiving radio telescopes comprising at least one receiving radio telescope satellite in orbit about the Earth or other planetary body and that receives a return radio signal reflected by the object;
• and
• generating a high resolution image of the object from the received return radio signals utilizing a near-field correction.

A space-based imaging system, comprising:

• an array of telescopes comprising:
• a transmitting radio telescope that transmits a narrow band, continuous wave (CW) radio beam, thereby illuminating an object in space about Earth or other planetary body;
• a plurality of receiving radio telescopes that receive return radio signals reflected by the object, the return radio signals produced by reflection of at least a portion of the transmitted narrow band, CW radio beam by the object, where the plurality of receiving radio telescopes comprises a receiving radio telescope satellite in orbit about the Earth or other planetary body and that receives a return radio signal reflected by the object, wherein the receiving radio telescope satellite in orbit about the Earth or other planetary body is a balloon satellite comprising a nested transceiver configured to communicate with a ground-based receiver;
• and
• processing circuitry that generates a high resolution image of the object from the received return radio signals.

A space-based imaging system, comprising:

• an array of telescopes comprising:
• a transmitting radio telescope that transmits a narrow band, continuous wave (CW) radio beam, thereby illuminating an object in space about Earth or other planetary body;
• a plurality of receiving radio telescopes that receive return radio signals reflected by the object, the return radio signals produced by reflection of at least a portion of the transmitted narrow band, CW radio beam by the object, where the plurality of receiving radio telescopes comprises a receiving radio telescope satellite in orbit about the Earth or other planetary body and that receives a return radio signal reflected by the object, where the plurality of receiving radio telescopes comprises a plurality of receiving radio telescope satellites in orbit about the Earth or other planetary body and, wherein the plurality of receiving radio telescope satellites in orbit include balloon satellites comprising a nested transceiver configured to communicate with adjacent balloon satellites;
• and
• processing circuitry that generates a high resolution image of the object from the received return radio signals.