Passive Bistatic Radar for Space Target Detection Using the GRAVES Radar as an Illuminator

The main goal of this work was to develop a demonstration passive radar system for observing objects at low Earth orbit with use of French radar GRAYES (from French Grand Réseau Adapté à la Veille Spatiale). With use of relatively inexpensive setup (Yagi antenna and simple SDR (Software Defined Radio) an attempt was made to receive signals reflected from International Space Station. Additional analysis was performed with aid of MATLAB environment and its Satellite Communications Toolbox to confirm detection. Two methods were examined and applied to received and recorded signals: matched filtering and ACCF (Adjacent Cross-Correlation Function). They were used to improving reception capabilities and deducing additional information about received pulses, with mixed results.