(meteorobs) FW: Could this radar be used for meteor forward scatter???

[Jay Salsburg]

No, the AN/FPS-85 is not good for meteor observation, it is classified
technically as a "Very Large Fixed-Array RADAR.". The reason it is not a
good candidate for Meteor observation; It is Scanning - Tracking - Scanning
- Tracking; several hundred times per second. This RADAR can track an object
the size of a basketball at a distance of more than 22,000 nm.. The Buzz you
reported is the energy being steered or formed to scan its field of view
which is due South over the Gulf of Mexico, so using it for forward scatter
would be ideally somewhere many miles offshore. The facility is only a few
miles from shore. Meteor observation needs Static or Meta Static beacon-like
energy. Even Analog Television transmissions are usable but still rather
noisy. A 100 to 1000 watt 40 to 60 MHz beacon is approaching ideal if the
receivers are at a proper distance. 

 

Jay Salsburg 

RADAR Scientist

 

Some links for study.

 

http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/track/overview.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/an-fps-85.htm

 

Lat: 30.5733190 Lon: -86.2147700

 

 

From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Raydel Abreu (CM2ESP)
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 11:34 AM
To: Meteor science and meteor observing
Subject: (meteorobs) Could this radar be used for meteor forward scatter???

 

Does anyone know if the AN/FPS-85 radar phased array at Eglin AFB used for
satellite tracking can be used for meteor forward scatter???

According to internet sources it is a phased array system, with 1 MegaWatt
combined power output (30MW EIRP). And it is frequency agile near 442 MHz.
Some reports says that a receiver tuned on the frequency vicinity it produce
a kind of buzzing sound.

Could it be used for meteor forward scatter??? It could be hard to identify
between satellites and meteors??? So far I had tried with a ham 6el yagi for
70cm and got zero response on center frequency during an ISS pass. ISS is a
big target and I had hear it with NAVSPASUR but no joy with Eglin. It should
produce some kind of signal amplitude change, I guess??? Of course, I used a
long run of coax with no pre-amp, so perhaps, the signal was to low to be
detected...

If this radar can be used for meteor detection it could be great, because it
has a big power, quite close to my location and even pointing to my
direction!!!

Any thoughts will be very appreciated. So far I'm using TV Channel 9, but
the transmitter is quite close, yet some results are being obtained.

Best wishes,

Raydel

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