Chirp filter bank for selective tracking of space objects on almost indentical orbits

Radar plays an important role in the support of a rocket launch in the early operation phase (LEOP) of a satellite mission. Shortly after the separation of the upper stage and its satellite payloads the selective tracking of only one of these targets for precise orbit determination is a challenging task. Two possible candidates of chirp filter banks based on Fractional Fourier Transform and Linear Chirp Transform respectively have been investigated to solve this problem by coherent integration of radar echo sequences. The chirp filter banks have been tested by real FHR TIRA tracking radar data for two objects of the Jules Verne ATV mission.