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Exploring the Possibility of Detecting UFOs with CubeSats

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In the world of extraterrestrial investigations, few characters have captured the public's imagination like Fox Mulder from the iconic series The X-Files. For years, this FBI agent's relentless pursuit of the truth about UFOs met with significant governmental resistance aimed at suppressing any evidence of alien life. Fast forward to 2019, when a significant uptick in UFO sightings was reported in the United States—6,340 cases, as per The National UFO Reporting Center—double the numbers from the previous year. Although many sightings are eventually clarified as mundane objects like drones or satellites, approximately 5% remain unresolved.

Those who have had encounters with unidentified flying objects often find their beliefs solidified and seek acknowledgment and answers. A 2020 Ipsos poll revealed that 45% of Americans think UFOs are real and may have visited our planet.

The states that report the highest numbers of UFO sightings include Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Mexico, famously linked to the Roswell incident.

This article investigates the feasibility of utilizing passive, multi-static radar technology on a CubeSat to identify UFOs in these high-sighting areas. The proposed system architecture, inspired by a paper from Peter Davenport, has been adapted to extend monitoring capabilities by employing a satellite rather than relying solely on ground-based systems. The optimal orbit for the satellite is discussed, and a simulation illustrating the swift transition to this orbit, along with monitoring activities in the five hotspot states, is presented in a video format. The topic of orbital decay is also briefly addressed.

What Exactly Is a CubeSat?

A CubeSat is a compact satellite shaped like a Rubik's Cube, with dimensions that increase in multiples of 10. For instance, a 1U CubeSat measures 10 cm on each side. Multiple 1U CubeSats can be combined to create larger satellites. These small satellites are cost-effective to produce, simple to assemble, and can be launched as secondary payloads on existing space missions. CubeSats are widely used for various scientific and telecommunications projects, as well as for monitoring Earth's environment, including weather patterns and volcanic activity. Our objective is to leverage a CubeSat to locate UFOs hovering in Earth's atmosphere.

CubeSat in action

UFO or Bird? The Need for Multi-Static Passive Radar

Radar technology functions by emitting electromagnetic waves to detect objects, analyzing the reflected signals to glean information about their properties. Various materials, including metals, satellites, and even birds, reflect these waves, while wood, most glass, and plastics do not.

This brings us to the proposition of equipping our UFO-detecting CubeSat with radar technology and launching it into space to identify UFOs. Rather than utilizing traditional, costly active radar systems—which are less effective for high-speed targets like UFOs—we propose the implementation of a multi-static passive radar system on the CubeSat. This setup utilizes multiple stationary receivers without the need for transmitters. The CubeSat’s antennas would capture ambient radio waves emitted by surrounding transmitters, which can also be space-based. The CubeSat’s receivers would intercept these reflected signals at a high frequency, enhancing its ability to detect fast-moving objects over extensive distances while gathering data on characteristics like speed and trajectory. This method is more economical and less complex due to the absence of transmitters and takes advantage of the many reflected signals available for continuous monitoring over vast areas, including space, without requiring governmental licensing.

The following diagram illustrates a simplified space-ground architecture (with assumptions simplified for this basic overview). The CubeSat, equipped with multiple receivers, intercepts reflected signals from various transmitters located on neighboring satellites. Signals emitted towards Earth are reflected back up by flying objects (whether birds or UFOs), and the CubeSat’s receivers gather these signals. At least three receivers on the CubeSat can conduct three-dimensional Doppler shift analyses of the reflected signals, providing valuable information for determining if an object is indeed a UFO.

Conceptual diagram of CubeSat radar architecture

Preparing for Launch

Considering factors like cost, atmospheric drag, image resolution based on the CubeSat's altitude, the geographic locations of the five UFO hotspots, and numerous other calculations, we can ascertain the appropriate orbit for our CubeSat and the duration it will spend over each state while orbiting Earth. Through extensive calculations and simulations, we’ve determined that a circular Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with a semi-major axis of 6928 km and an inclination of 65 degrees would provide between 36 to 53 hours of coverage monthly over the five states with frequent UFO sightings.

So how do we propel the CubeSat into this orbit? The rocket carrying the CubeSat will transition from a parking orbit (6578 km from Earth's center or 200 km above the surface) to the targeted 6928 km orbit (550 km from the surface) while also adjusting its inclination to 65 degrees. There are various methods for achieving orbital transfers, but we will discuss just two here.

The first method is the Hohmann transfer, depicted in the accompanying diagram. This fuel-efficient approach allows the CubeSat to move from its initial blue parking orbit to the final outer blue orbit via half of an orange transfer ellipse.

Illustration of Hohmann transfer maneuver

Starting from a circular parking orbit with an inclination of 28 degrees and a semi-major axis of 6578 km, we will guide the CubeSat around this orbit before initiating an impulsive maneuver (delta v1) that transitions the satellite to a Hohmann transfer ellipse reaching an apogee of 6928 km. Upon reaching the apogee, a second maneuver (delta v2) will be executed to circularize the orbit, bringing the semi-major axis to 6928 km. Finally, we will adjust the inclination to 65 degrees at the ascending node through a third maneuver.

The accompanying video demonstrates the Hohmann transfer process, highlighting the various orbits involved.

An alternative method for orbital transfer is a fast transfer, as illustrated in the following diagram.

Fast transfer orbital maneuver illustration

In this case, the radius of the apogee for the transfer ellipse is set at double that of the outer orbit (6928 + 6928 = 13856 km). Instead of proceeding to the apogee point, the CubeSat will make a second maneuver at the intersection of the transfer ellipse and the outer orbit. Once in the outer orbit, we can adjust to the ascending node and perform another maneuver (delta V3) to change the inclination to 65 degrees.

The fast transfer technique allows the CubeSat to reach the outer orbit in just 7.9 minutes, while the Hohmann transfer method requires 46 minutes, highlighting a significant difference in efficiency.

The video below showcases the fast transfer process, with the yellow orbit representing the transfer ellipse and the blue orbit indicating the final outer orbit.

Examining Orbital Decay

While the quest for UFOs continues, we must consider the practical limitations of our search. Specifically, how long can we keep the CubeSat operational before it succumbs to orbital decay? Given that the CubeSat orbits at an altitude of 550 km, it is especially vulnerable to atmospheric drag, a force that can alter its trajectory. By analyzing factors such as atmospheric density at this altitude, orbital inclination, drag acceleration, CubeSat velocity, and Earth's angular velocity, we can estimate when our CubeSat will re-enter the atmosphere. Calculations suggest that it will descend to an altitude of 100 km in approximately 15.289 years before ultimately crashing.

One could hope for an encounter with extraterrestrial beings long before that time frame. Until then, our CubeSat can continue to support Fox Mulder's quest for the truth!

David Duchovny as Fox Mulder

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