SIMULATION AND PROCESSING OF SIGNALS WITH MICRO-DOPPLER SIGNATURES FOR SPACECRAFT

Abstract

The article proposes an advanced model for forming micro-Doppler signatures of non-cooperative spacecraft, specifically adapted to the conditions of the space environment and grounded in the physical principles of the micro-Doppler effect. The model integrates classical rigid-body kinematics of the spacecraft with superimposed local micro-motions of individual structural elements, such as rotating panels or vibrating components, while also accounting for multipoint electromagnetic scattering from complex geometries. This combination makes it possible to reproduce both continuous spectral components associated with regular rotational motions and impulse-like features caused by intermittent or transient micro-motions.

The configuration of the computational experiment is described in detail, including assumptions regarding spacecraft geometry, motion parameters, radar observation conditions, and signal acquisition. Particular attention is given to the selection of time–frequency analysis techniques and processing parameters, which are shown to play a critical role in resolving and interpreting micro-Doppler features. The obtained time–frequency representations demonstrate good consistency with theoretical expectations and previously reported analytical results.

A sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the influence of micro-motion characteristics, such as angular velocity, vibration amplitude, and observation duration, on the resulting micro-Doppler signatures. The results confirm that even small variations in these parameters can lead to noticeable changes in spectral structure, highlighting the potential of micro-Doppler features for spacecraft characterization.

The proposed model is primarily intended for generating high-fidelity synthetic datasets and for the preliminary assessment of the informativeness and robustness of micro-Doppler features in the context of spacecraft observation, identification, and classification under non-cooperative conditions.