Proposal of an Impact Detector of Space Debris via Microwave

摘要

Microwave emissions due to hypervelocity impacts have been detected by heterodyne receivers in the ground experiments using an accelerator. We aim to establish the detection system of space debris impacts on a space structure via microwave. The emitted powers at the impact velocity of 10 km/sec are estimated from the characteristics at the experimental impact velocity. Considering the emitted power, the receiving antenna and the microwave frequency, the maximum distances for detecting the microwave emission are 76 m at 2 GHz band and 24 m at 22 GHz. The type and location of receiving antennas which can detect the impact on all habitation and experiment modules on the International Space Station are discussed. The impact can be sufficiently detected via a low gain antenna at 2 GHz band.