Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-01-13
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
6 pages, 6 figures, uses LaTeX2e and cospar.sty, to appear in Advances in Space Research, available on http://www.mpi-hd.mpg
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.asr.2003.01.007
In the effort to obtain low cost routine space debris observations in low Earth orbit, ESA plans to utilise the radar facilities of the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association. First demonstration measurements were performed from 11 to 23 February 2001. In total $16{\rm hours}$ of radar signals were collected. Here we compare these initial measurements with the predictions of the ESA MASTER/PROOF'99 model in order to assess the sensitivity as well as the reliability of the data. We find that while the determination of object size needs to be reviewed, the altitude distribution provides a good fit to the model prediction. The absolute number of objects detected in the various altitude bins indicates that the coherent integration method indeed increases the detection sensitivity when compared to incoherent integration. In the data presented here integration times from 0.1 to $0.3{\rm s}$ were used. As expected, orbit information cannot be obtained from the measurements if they are linked to ionospheric measurements as planned. In addition routine space debris observations provide also useful information for the validation of large-object catalogues.
Flury Walter
Jehn Rüdiger
Landgraf Markus
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