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Final Implementation and Performance of the Cheia Space Object Tracking Radar.

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Title: Final Implementation and Performance of the Cheia Space Object Tracking Radar.
Authors: Bîră, Călin1 (AUTHOR), Ionescu, Liviu2 (AUTHOR), Hobincu, Radu1 (AUTHOR) radu.hobincu@upb.ro
Source: Remote Sensing. Oct2025, Vol. 17 Issue 19, p3322. 19p.
Subjects: Space surveillance, Tracking radar, Radar, Continuous wave radar, Signal processing, Artificial satellite tracking, European Union
Geographic Terms: Romania
Abstract: Highlights: What are the main findings? Successful retrofit of two 32 m Cassegrain Intelsat antennas into a fully operational C-band LFMCW radar for space object tracking. Demonstrated capability to detect and track objects with radar cross-sections as low as 0.02 m 2 up to 1200 km with 2.5 kW transmitted power, validated through ESA-supervised campaigns. What is the implication of the main finding? Shows that re-purposing legacy satellite communication infrastructure is a cost-effective approach for EU SST-compliant radar networks. Confirms that LFMCW radar architectures can achieve high accuracy and robustness even in electromagnetically congested environments with adequate digital processing. This paper presents the final implemented design and performance evaluation of the ground-based C-band Cheia radar system, developed to enhance Romania's contribution to the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) network. All data used for performance analysis are real-time, real-life measurements of true spatial test objects orbiting Earth. The radar is based on two decommissioned 32 m satellite communication antennas already present at the Cheia Satellite Communication Center, that were retrofitted for radar operation in a quasi-monostatic architecture. A Linear Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (LFMCW) Radar design was implemented, using low transmitted power (2.5 kW) and advanced software-defined signal processing for detection and tracking of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) targets. System validation involved dry-run acceptance tests and calibration campaigns with known reference satellites. The radar demonstrated accurate measurements of range, Doppler velocity, and angular coordinates, with the capability to detect objects with radar cross-sections as low as 0.03 m2 at slant ranges up to 1200 km. Tracking of medium and large Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets remained robust under both fair and adverse weather conditions. This work highlights the feasibility of re-purposing legacy satellite infrastructure for SST applications. The Cheia radar provides a cost-effective, EUSST-compliant performance solution using primarily commercial off-the-shelf components. The system strengthens the EU SST network while demonstrating the advantages of LFMCW radar architectures in electromagnetically congested environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Final Implementation and Performance of the Cheia Space Object Tracking Radar.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bîră%2C+Călin%22">Bîră, Călin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ionescu%2C+Liviu%22">Ionescu, Liviu</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hobincu%2C+Radu%22">Hobincu, Radu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> radu.hobincu@upb.ro</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 17 Issue 19, p3322. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space+surveillance%22">Space surveillance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tracking+radar%22">Tracking radar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radar%22">Radar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Continuous+wave+radar%22">Continuous wave radar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Signal+processing%22">Signal processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+satellite+tracking%22">Artificial satellite tracking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22European+Union%22">European Union</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Romania%22">Romania</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Successful retrofit of two 32 m Cassegrain Intelsat antennas into a fully operational C-band LFMCW radar for space object tracking. Demonstrated capability to detect and track objects with radar cross-sections as low as 0.02 m 2 up to 1200 km with 2.5 kW transmitted power, validated through ESA-supervised campaigns. What is the implication of the main finding? Shows that re-purposing legacy satellite communication infrastructure is a cost-effective approach for EU SST-compliant radar networks. Confirms that LFMCW radar architectures can achieve high accuracy and robustness even in electromagnetically congested environments with adequate digital processing. This paper presents the final implemented design and performance evaluation of the ground-based C-band Cheia radar system, developed to enhance Romania's contribution to the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) network. All data used for performance analysis are real-time, real-life measurements of true spatial test objects orbiting Earth. The radar is based on two decommissioned 32 m satellite communication antennas already present at the Cheia Satellite Communication Center, that were retrofitted for radar operation in a quasi-monostatic architecture. A Linear Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (LFMCW) Radar design was implemented, using low transmitted power (2.5 kW) and advanced software-defined signal processing for detection and tracking of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) targets. System validation involved dry-run acceptance tests and calibration campaigns with known reference satellites. The radar demonstrated accurate measurements of range, Doppler velocity, and angular coordinates, with the capability to detect objects with radar cross-sections as low as 0.03 m2 at slant ranges up to 1200 km. Tracking of medium and large Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets remained robust under both fair and adverse weather conditions. This work highlights the feasibility of re-purposing legacy satellite infrastructure for SST applications. The Cheia radar provides a cost-effective, EUSST-compliant performance solution using primarily commercial off-the-shelf components. The system strengthens the EU SST network while demonstrating the advantages of LFMCW radar architectures in electromagnetically congested environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/rs17193322
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 3322
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Space surveillance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tracking radar
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radar
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Continuous wave radar
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Signal processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial satellite tracking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: European Union
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Romania
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Final Implementation and Performance of the Cheia Space Object Tracking Radar.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Bîră, Călin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ionescu, Liviu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hobincu, Radu
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 10
              Text: Oct2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 17
            – Type: issue
              Value: 19
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Remote Sensing
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