The STARLINK-based passive radar: preliminary study and first illuminator signal measurements

In this paper, a preliminary study for the design of passive radar exploiting novel space illuminators of opportunity is presented. Wide-band satellite systems such as the Starlink constellation have arisen as promising illumination sources for passive coherent location due to their almost ubiquitous presence and transmission characteristics. In this work, the potentials of Starlink transmitters as illuminators of opportunity are described, presenting an overview of the Starlink constellation, signal transmission characteristics, and real Starlink reference signals acquired at Warsaw University of Technology (WUT). The analysis is completed with an estimation of the power budget, system coverage, and expected system resolution. The performance of Starlink based passive radar are also compared with other potential satellite illuminators such as the DVB-S2 broadcasting system and the global navigation satellite systems (Galileo and GPS). Finally, the Starlink-based radar demonstrator under development in WUT is presented.