The application of lidar in detecting the space debris

The accumulation of space debris is expected to present an increasing threat to orbital aerostat. To develop and use space resource continually and in security the detecting technology for space debris has to be improved . The paper firstly introduces the concept of space debris and their common detection means , and then introduces the application of lidar in detecting the space debris .Comparing with conventional optical observation systems lidar adopts active detecting mode , without the limitation of illumination and with a long detecting distance . It also can measure range and speed of targets . Comparing with microwave radar the beam of lidar is narrow and it has great orientation precision and resolving power. To satisfy detecting small-sized debris in long distance and big area the paper proposes the composite method to detect the space debris which uses millimeter wave radar and optic equipment. It firstly uses millimeter wave with long distance and big view field to confirm the position of debris in long distance . And then it uses optical system with high resolving and anti-jamming power for accurate orientation and identification . It also measure the distance , angle and speed exactly of debris. The study in theory indicates this composite method can complete the detecting and orientation and achieve the distance , angle and speed of the space debris more than 10cm range beyond 150km.