Radio interferometry and satellite tracking

Worldwide growth of space communications has caused a rapid increase in the number of satellites operating in geostationary orbits, causing overcrowded orbits. This practical resource is designed to help professionals overcome this problem. This timely book provides a solid understanding of the use of radio interferometers for tracking and monitoring satellites in overcrowded environments. Practitioners learn the fundamentals of radio interferometer hardware, including antennas, receiving equipment, signal processing and phase detection, and measurement accuracies. This in-depth volume describes the nature of the targets to be tracked by the interferometer, helping to clarify the movement of target satellites and what specific information has to be caught by the interferometer. Additionally, engineers find details on applications to practical cases of satellite tracking, covering different types of interferometers, recent technical developments, orbital monitoring and safety control.

Part I: Radio Interferometer – Overview. Antennas. Receiving Equipment. Phase Detection. Signal, Noise, and Precision. Error Factors. Design and Installation. Part II: Geostationary Orbits – Overview. Kepler's Laws. Circular and Near-Circular Orbits. Orbit Maneuvers. Perturbations. Station Keeping. Overcrowding and Regulations. Part III: Satellite-Tracking Interferometer Overview. Tracking and Orbit Estimation. Azimuth-Elevation Tracking. Differential Tracking. Longitude Tracking. Range-Azimuth Tracking. Rotary Baseline Interferometer. References. Index.