Real-time Forward Moving Target Tracking in Multi-Stage Launch Vehicle

Stages of a satellite launch vehicle are jettisoned after complete or partial usage based on the payload’s orbital requirement or mission design. Tracking the multi-stage launch vehicle from ascending to satellite deployment in orbit, is one of the most important and critical mission requirements. Tracking the forward-moving stage continuously is challenging due to the received echoes from multiple stages (both separated & forward stage) and back-scattering from vehicle plumes at the radar receiver during stage separation. This paper discusses a methodology to identify echo corresponding to the forward-moving object from the multiple echoes and track it continuously without any tracking break. This method is implemented in one of the S-Band radars at SDSC SHAR and tracked launch vehicles successfully without a break in tracking during stage separations.