Сonceptual design of small spacecraft with a high resolution P-VHF band bistatic SAR system

Abstract

Spatial resolution is one of the most important characteristics of a radar image. Significant limitations in communication regulations should be taken into account concerning radar facilities in long-wave frequency ranges (P or VHF). These limitations do not allow high resolution of a radar facility. The article presents a possible conceptual design of a small spacecraft with a bistatic dual-frequency P-VHF radar facility. The system under consideration is characterized by the displacement of the transmitting station in the process of imaging and stationary position of the receiving station. The synchronization of the system is ensured by organizing a direct channel of signal propagation between the transmitter and receiver. The distinctive feature of the system is simultaneous radiation of direct impulses of the space-borne radio transmitting device in two bands. The influence of the atmosphere on the radar resolution is compensated as a result of joint processing at the ground receiving station. It is expected that total spatial resolution can be brought up to 2 meters due to the simultaneous operation in dual-frequency ranges. The results of a full-scale ground-based experiment simulating the work of the proposed radar complex are presented in the article.

Keywords

• earth remote sensing
• bistatic synthetic aperture radar (sar)
• p-band
• l-band
• small satellite