Assessing the Suitability of the Chilbolton Radars for Space Debris and Space Surveillance Applications

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) operates several radars installed on its fully-steerable 25-metre diameter dish antenna at the Chilbolton Observatory in southern England. In the past, these radars have successfully detected a variety of satellite targets. High range resolution (HRR) radar profiling of ground-based targets has also been conducted. Recently, as part of the in-orbit testing activity for the EU 'Galileo' programme, the Chilbolton antenna has demonstrated highly accurate satellite tracking. This combination of satellite detection, HRR radar profiling and high-fidelity antenna tracking represents a useful capability for space debris and space surveillance work. Here, we describe the Chilbolton site, the 25-metre dish, its radars, and the results obtained in past experiments. Plans for future Space Situational Awareness (SSA)-related work at Chilbolton Observatory are outlined. The potential for Chilbolton, and other STFC assets, to contribute to the radar element of a European SSA network is discussed.