• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2018

Radar sensors are used for space situational awareness (SSA) to determine collision risk and detect re-entry of space objects. The capability of SSA radar system includes radar sensitivity such as the detectable radar cross-section as a function of range and tracking capability to indicate tracking time and measurement errors. The time duration of the target staying in a range cell is short; therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio cannot be improved through the pulse integration method used in pulse-Doppler signal processing. In this study, a method of improving the signal-to-noise ratio during range migration is presented. The improved detection performance from signal processing gains realized in this study can be used as a basis for comprehensively designing an SSA radar system.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 2017

With increased human activity in space, the risk of re-entry and collision between space objects is constantly increasing. Hence, the need for space situational awareness (SSA) programs has been acknowledged by many experienced space agencies. Optical and radar sensors, which enable the surveillance and tracking of space objects, are the most important technical components of SSA systems. In particular, combinations of radar systems and optical sensor networks play an outstanding role in SSA programs. At present, Korea operates the optical wide field patrol network (OWL-Net), the only optical system for tracking space objects. However, due to their dependence on weather conditions and observation time, it is not reasonable to use optical systems alone for SSA initiatives, as they have limited operational availability. Therefore, the strategies for developing radar systems should be considered for an efficient SSA system using currently available technology. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of a radar system in detecting and tracking space objects. With the radar system investigated, the minimum sensitivity is defined as detection of a $1-m^2$ radar cross section (RCS) at an altitude of 2,000 km, with operating frequencies in the L, S, C, X or Ku-band. The results of power budget analysis showed that the maximum detection range of 2,000 km, which includes the low earth orbit (LEO) environment, can be achieved with a transmission power of 900 kW, transmit and receive antenna gains of 40 dB and 43 dB, respectively, a pulse width of 2 ms, and a signal processing gain of 13.3 dB, at a frequency of 1.3 GHz. We defined the key parameters of the radar following a performance analysis of the system. This research can thus provide guidelines for the conceptual design of radar systems for national SSA initiatives.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

The high-level Space Situational Awareness (SSA) objective is to provide to the users dependable, accurate and timely information in order to support risk management on orbit and during re-entry and support safe and secure operation of space assets and related services. Therefore the risk assessment for the re-entry of space objects should be managed nationally. In this research, the Software for Re-Entry Prediction of space objects (SREP) was developed for national SSA system. In particular, the rate of change of the drag coefficient is estimated through a newly proposed Drag Scale Factor Estimation (DSFE), and is used for high-precision orbit propagator (HPOP) up to an altitude of 100 km to predict the re-entry time and position of the space object. The effectiveness of this re-entry prediction is shown through the re-entry time window and ground track of space objects falling in real events, Grace-1, Grace-2, Tiangong-1, and Chang Zheng-5B Rocket body. As a result, through analysis 12 hours before the final re-entry time, it is shown that the re-entry time window and crash time can be accurately predicted with an error of less than 20 minutes.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.79-123
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• 2019

This article refers to the Space security legislation in South Korea and Poland. Both states have already prepared some legislation on Security in Space- the question is the following- if there is still a need of progress and if those presented legislation are sufficient for the practical purposes of the peaceful uses of Outer Space. South Korea is a much more experienced state in using space than Poland; the same seems with the legislation. Poland as less experienced state in this matter has lots of ambitions to create the efficient legislation on Space security, so it must follow the good examples of states and institution in this matter. One of them is Korea. On the other state, Poland as a Member of EU must implement the European law in space security (in particular SSA), which seems to be priceless and efficient for the international cooperation in Space.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2012

Any development plan of a Korean space-based navigational system has been neither designed nor introduced yet. However, the demand for the development of a domestic regional satellite navigation system can be originated from the outside of market. The growing dependency on satellite navigational systems in Korea eventually requires the retainment and the operation of a domestic navigational satellite system. There is not many choices on the orbit designs and the system design concepts of a regional augmented navigation satellite system or a regional navigation satellite system for the service on the vicinity of the Korean peninsular. Space situational awareness (SSA) has been a rising issue for both national security and more realistic space business in Korea. Also SSA related technologies in Korea is a newly inaugurated area and is necessary to generate a navigation messages and maintain a future Korean navigation satellite system. In this study, the availability of Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) expected to be deployed definitely sooner than Korean counter-part is analyzed. The availability of the similar configured system over Korea is investigated with assumed QZSS type orbit. Also, feasible configuration of orbits for domestic navigation satellite system is suggested. And the observability of a ground-based optical tracking system as a secondary tracking capability is analyzed.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.130.1-130.1
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• 2011

인류의 우주공간에 대한 영향력이 확대됨에 따라, 우주공간에서의 인위적인 활동에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 모든 종류의 상황들에 대한 이해가 최근 전 세계적으로 매우 중요한 이슈로 부상하고 있다. 이를 Space Situational Awareness (SSA)라고 하는데, 특히 근지구공간에서의 인위적, 자연적 우주물체는, 우주발사체의 지속적인 증가와 이리듐-코스모스 위성의 상호 충돌 및 중국 폐기위성 파괴 등과 같은 사건으로 기하급수적으로 증가된 우주물체의 개체수로 인해 대한민국 국적의 모든 위성에도 실제적인 위협 요인으로 대두되고 있다. 이에 기초 기술연구회와 한국천문연구원은 이러한 위협을 국가적으로 해결해야할 과제(National Agenda Project) 중의 하나로 정의하고, 이를 해결하기 위해 우주물체 전자광학 감시체계 기술개발(OWL; Optical Wide-field patroL) 사업을 시작하였다. 이 사업의 목표는 자국위성에 대한 궤도력을 독자적으로 유지할 수 있는 시스템을 개발하는 것이며, 이를 위하여 2011년부터 6년 동안 총 5개소의 해외 관측소에 50cm급 광시야 망원경을 각각 설치하여 자국위성을 자동으로 상시관측하고, 관측된 자료를 이용한 궤도계산을 통하여 독자적으로 궤도력을 유지할 계획이다. 또한, 우주잔해물 감시는 하나의 국가에서 단독으로 할 수 없기 때문에 2m급 우주물체 감시망원경을 개발하여 국제공동으로 진행할 계획이다. 사업 첫해인 2011년 4월 시스템 요구사항 분석을 완료하였고 10월말 시스템 기본설계를 완료할 예정이다. 최종 완성될 소구경 광시야 망원경과 우주물체 감시망원경의 주요 임무는 우주물체 관측이지만, 향후 광시야를 이용한 다양한 탐사천문학에도 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다. 한편, 자국위성에 대한 충돌 위험도 분석 및 회피기동에 관한 연구는 한국항공우주연구원이 이 사업의 협동연구로 참여하고 있다.