satellite-surveillance radar

Satellite-surveillance radar systems are large, powerful radar installations designed to detect and track objects in orbit around Earth, such as satellites and space debris. These systems are significantly larger than aircraft-detection radars due to the greater distances involved and the smaller radar echoes from space targets. They often utilize phased-array antennas, which can electronically steer radar beams without mechanical movement, allowing for rapid scanning and simultaneous tracking of multiple objects.12

These radars operate at lower frequencies, typically between 420–450 MHz and 1,215–1,400 MHz. Examples include the Pave Paws system and the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS), which can detect targets at ranges of up to 3,000 nautical miles. Beyond surveillance, radar technology, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), is used from space to create detailed images of Earth's surface, unaffected by weather conditions.234