Duration of Radar Observation of Space Debris

A new method is proposed for calculating the duration of radar observation of spatial objects. This method is based on kinematic description of the object’s motion; and calculation of the scalar product of the object’s position vector and the vector of the observation point on the Earth’s surface. Sample calculations are presented for the radar visibility of objects on different trajectories. This method may be used to optimize the location of radar stations on the Earth’s surface so as to permit uninterrupted detection and observation of objects in low orbits.