Time–Space Optimization of Uniform Array Lattices for Space Debris Radars

Surveillance radars for monitoring the low earth orbit are often based on phased arrays composed by a large number of elements. Where scalability and high transmission powers are primary requirements, uniform lattices provide a viable solution, but it is important to optimize the number of radiators, while at the same time, avoiding grating lobes. This communication provides analytical formulas to determine the array lattice geometrical parameters for a rectangular sky region free of grating lobes. Design strategies based on a time-space (4-D) representation are discussed, and an example based on the system currently under development for the European Space Agency is presented and validated using full-wave simulations.