Bistatic and multistatic system for space situational awareness
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsJuan F. Lam, Theofanis Mavromatis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a bistatic and multistatic system for detecting and identifying a target in close proximity to an orbiting satellite. An electromagnetic fence is established to surround the satellite, using a ground-based communication uplink from a gateway antenna. A contact or breach of the electromagnetic fence by the target is detected by the satellite, or at other sensor locations, and an exact position, range and ISAR image of the target is calculated using scattered RF energy from the fence. Identification data is transmitted to satellite system monitors, whereby the data is used to decide on a corrective course of action.
Claims20
A method for establishing relative situational awareness between a space-borne platform and a target, comprising:
- establishing an electromagnetic fence around the space-borne platform, the fence extending from a radio frequency signal source outwardly in space beyond the space-borne platform;
- detecting a target contacting the electromagnetic fence;
- calculating a distance from the target to the space-borne platform;
- and
- generating a radio frequency image of the target.
A system for detecting and identifying a target in proximity to a space-borne platform, comprising:
- an electro-magnetic fence positioned around the space-borne platform;
- a radio frequency signal source for generating the electro-magnetic fence;
- a detector positioned on the space-borne platform for detecting a contact of the electro-magnetic fence by the target;
- and
- a processor for processing directed and reflected radio frequency signals to detect and identify the target.
A system for detecting and identifying a target in proximity to a space-borne platform, comprising:
- a means for establishing an electromagnetic fence around the space-borne platform;
- a means for detecting a contact of the electromagnetic fence by the target;
- and
- a means for calculating positional information of the target and for identifying the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.