yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (01/25/89)
Jeff Vincent
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. January 19, 1989
RELEASE: 89-8
NASA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR ORBITAL DEBRIS RADAR
NASA has requested proposals from industry for a ground-
based radar that will quantify and characterize debris orbiting
between 180 to 360 miles above Earth. The radar would have the
capability of detecting debris as small as 1 centimeter in
diameter, contrasted with the 10-centimeter capability of current
radar systems.
The data gathered by the orbital debris radar are needed for
designing the permanently manned Space Station Freedom. Even the
smallest pieces of orbital debris pose a potential hazard to
spacecraft, so it is important that the pressurized modules of
Freedom be built to withstand as much orbital debris damage as
possible. Space Station Freedom is planned to be in Earth orbit
for up to 30 years.
Information is extremely limited about the number and size
of small debris pieces at the operational altitude range of the
space station. Preliminary experiments, using radar astronomy
facilities, have suggested that the number of small debris
particles at these altitudes may be higher than expected. The
new radar will provide definitive information about such debris,
determining its size, altitude and orbital inclination.
The orbital debris radar facility will conduct preliminary
processing of data before sending it to NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston, for further analysis and incorporation into
models of the orbital debris environment.
Under the request for proposals (RFP) issued today, an
offeror would design, construct and test an orbital debris radar
and associated hardware and software. After a 5-month period of
preliminary testing and operation at Goldstone, Calif., the
offeror would be responsible for shipping the radar to an
overseas location and then reestablishing and retesting the radar
in preparation for operations at the overseas site.
To meet Space Station Freedom design schedules, preliminary
test results from the stateside location should be available by
October 1991. The overseas station should be operational by
March 1992.
The deadline for responses to the RFP is 7 weeks after its
release. The firm, fixed-price contract will be managed by
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.hkhenson@cup.portal.com (H Keith Henson) (01/27/89)
Once they find a 1 cm pebble, what are they going to do about it? *I* think it makes a case for building a laser on the ground and a redirection mirrow in space to zap these on the leading side of their orbital flight and pulse evaporate enough of them to drop them into the atmosphere. SDI proponents and those who would clean up LEO as an environmental improvement project should get together on this one! Keith Henson---A founder of the sadly lamented L5 Society