Capabilities of the Irkutsk Incoherent Scattering Radar for Space Debris Studies

The incoherent scattering radar is promising facilities for obtaining low cost routine space debris observations in low Earth orbit [1].The Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar (IISR) is intended for studying the ionosphere [2]. Simultaneously with ionospheric measurements IISR detects space object (SO) passing through the IISR sector. In each sample series we measure the following of the SO characteristics: range, beam velocity, azimuth angle, elevation, and signal amplitude. Two from six Keplerian elements of the orbit can be defined with high accuracy, they are the inclination and the right ascension of the ascending node of the observed SO. The SO flux is several tens of thousands per month for standard ionospheric measurements.