Advantages and Limitations of using the Murchison Widefield Array for Space Surveillance: a Feasibility Study

Abstract

The rapid increase in the density of human-made objects in Low Earth Orbit has raised concerns about the possible onset of the Kessler effect. These concerns have motivated this thesis to investigate the feasibility of using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) to perform Space Surveillance. The research undertaken in this thesis has demonstrated the MWA to be a novel instrument capable of contributing to the global space surveillance effort.