Hanscom Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, Meeting
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Auditorium
Refreshments: 3:30 PM, Talk 4 - 5 PM
Joint Meeting with the IEEE Life Members
Visions of Radars in Space
William P. Delaney, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
This talk advocates a space-based radar enterprise. A variety of dramatic military (and civilian) advantages will be presented. An animated view of a space-based radar, mapping a wide variety of targets in the Northeastern United States, will be shown to give a physical feel for the enormous capability of a radar constellation. The technical challenges, the potential cost and the potential "show stoppers" will be discussed.
A constellation of some eighteen space-based radars is proposed for rapidly-updated observations of military targets. The radars would be in low-earth orbit to keep the radar demands within reach of near-term technology. Ground moving target indicator capability and synthetic aperture imaging (GMTI / SAR) would be the principal operating modes. These radars would observe land vehicles, ships, some aircraft and a wide range of non-movers such as buildings, bridges, roads and a variety of natural objects such as mountains, rivers, icebergs etc. The main mission for this system would be support to military operations, national security, and homeland security, but its use could expand rapidly to deal with civilian challenges on a global scale. It could be an invaluable data source for observing and mapping floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires and volcanoes. This rapid growth to civilian application would mimic the astounding civilian growth of another initially-military system, GPS.
William Delaney has been affiliated with the MIT Lincoln Laboratory since 1957. He currently is the Director’s Office Fellow and is a former Assistant Director of the Laboratory. From 1973-1976, he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense with responsibilities in Air and Missile Defense. From 1968-1970, he led the ALCOR wideband radar effort at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. His professional areas of experience are Air Defense, Missile Defense, GPS, and Tactical Battlefield Surveillance. He is a member of the Defense Science Board and a former member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. He is an Electrical Engineering graduate of Rensselaer and MIT. Mr. Delaney was elected a Fellow of IEEE in 1995 and has been awarded the Secretary of Defense and U.S. Air Force Civilian Service Medals.
The meeting will be held at the Lincoln Lab Auditorium at 4:00 PM. Refreshments will be served at 3:30 PM. Registration is in the main lobby. Foreign national visitors to Lincoln Lab require visit requests. You may also pre-register by e-mail to Roslyn Wesley, rwesley@ll.mit.edu; please indicate your citizenship. You will not receive a confirmation of your pre-registration, however, your badge will be ready for you when you register. Please use the Wood Street Gate. For directions go to http://www.ll.mit.edu For other information, contact Ed Altshuler, Chairman at (781)377-4662 or edward.altshuler@hanscom.af.mil