An Explicit Second-Order Formula for Radar Echo Time

Abstract

In the radar ranging, the echo delay depends on the movements of the target and the transceiver during wave propagation. Thus, the exact formula for determining the radar echo time is implicit. In this investigation, the forward and the backward propagation times are expressed in terms of the separation distance of the target and the transceiver at the instant of wave emission. Thereby, an explicit second-order formula for the radar echo time is derived, which is helpful in high-precision radar, such as the interplanetary radar.