The Navy Space Surveillance System

Abstract

A complete system for satellite detection and tracking and for computations of satellite orbits has been built by the Navy under ARPA sponsorship. This detection system uses a CW transmitter separated from two receiving sites, all having fan-type coplanar antenna beams. The angle of arrival of the reflected signals is measured at each station by the use of an interferometer. The position of the reflecting object is inferred by the point in the fan antenna beam defined by the intersection of the arrival angles at the two receiving stations. Two ARPA-sponsored Space Surveillance radal (radio detection and location) devices of the type described have been installed in the southern U. S. In addition to the detecting and tracking installation the system includes data transmission lines, a data reduction center, a very high speed computer for orbit determination and predictions, and display devices.