(U) Haystack Long Range Imaging Radar (LRIR)

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The Millstone Haystack complex consists of two radars that share hardware and power which precludes simultaneous operations.  The two radars are the Haystack Long Range Imaging Radar (LRIR) and the Haystack Auxiliary Radar (HAX).  These radars support missions for USSPACECOM, the National Science Foundation, and for NASA.  Their primary function is for deep space imaging of foreign and domestic satellites and orbital debris.  The radars image every new foreign space launch in near earth, and image domestic satellites in trouble. 

Description: (U)
(U) The LRIR takes two-dimensional images of earth satellites by processing highly stable, coherent signals to extract target return range and doppler information.  The radar is capable of tracking and imaging near-earth satellites, 200-4,000 km altitude, as well as deep space objects out to 40,000 km range and beyond.  The maximum tracking rate of the Haystack antenna is 2 degrees/second, and this sets the limits on observation of near-earth satellites, especially those passing nearly overhead.  The limitation on deep space objects is their size: a one square meter radar cross section at 40,000 km is roughly the detection threshold of the radar.  The radar operates at 10-GHz center frequency and transmits over a broad range of pulse widths and pulse repetition frequencies, including a 1-GHz linear FM pulse which, when compressed, is used for radar imaging.  The radars also provide detection of objects in space and gather information about their estimated size, velocity, altitude, and direction of travel. 

User Impact: (U)
(U) Loss of this capability would have a significant impact on the Space Surveillance Network (SNN).

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.

(U) Organizations and Funding:
	(U) USSPACECOM: Funding Source.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) Millstone-Haystack

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Contibuting Sensors

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) SPACE CONTROL: S.S. NETWORK.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) DoD.

Date of Information: (U)
24 September 1998

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)