Target detection using microwave irradiances from natural sources: A passive, local and global surveillance system
Abstract
Detection of metal objects on or near the Earth's surface was investigated using existing, passive, microwave sensors operating from Earth orbit. The range equations are derived from basic microwave principles and theories and the expressions are given explicitly to estimate the signal to noise ratio for detecting metal targets operating as bistatic scatterers. Actual measurements are made on a range of metal objects observed from orbit using existing passive microwave receiving systems. The details of the measurements and the results are tabulated and discussed. The advantages of a passive microwave sensor as it is applied to surveillance of metal objects as viewed from aerial platforms or from orbit, are examined.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- November 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984STIN...8515991S
- Keywords:
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- Electrical Engineering;
- Electronic Equipment;
- Microwave Equipment;
- Target Recognition;
- Thermodynamics;
- Aerial Reconnaissance;
- Countermeasures;
- Heat Transfer;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering