  Currently, space debris represents a threat for satellites and space-based
operations, both in-orbit and during the launching process. The yearly increase
in space debris represents a serious concern to major space agencies leading to
the development of dedicated space programs to deal with this issue.
Ground-based radars can detect Earth orbiting debris down to a few square
centimeters and therefore constitute a major building block of a space debris
monitoring system. New radar sensors are required in Europe to enhance
capabilities and availability of its small radar network capable of tracking
and surveying space objects and to respond to the debris increase expected from
the New Space economy activities. This article presents ATLAS, a new tracking
radar system for debris detection located in Portugal. It starts by an
extensive technical description of all the system components followed by a
study that estimates its future performance. A section dedicated to waveform
design is also presented, since the system allows the usage of several types of
pulse modulation schemes such as LFM and phase coded modulations while enabling
the development and testing of more advanced ones. By presenting an
architecture that is highly modular with fully digital signal processing, ATLAS
establishes a platform for fast and easy development, research and innovation.
The system follows the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf technologies and Open
Systems which is unique among current radar systems.
