: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflected signals can be used to remotely sense
the Earth’s surface, known as GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R). The GNSS-R technique has been applied
to numerous areas, such as the retrieval of wind speed, and the detection of Earth surface objects.
This work proposes a new application of GNSS-R, namely to detect objects above the Earth’s surface,
such as low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. To discuss its feasibility, 14 delay Doppler maps (DDMs) are
first presented which contain unusually bright reflected signals as delays shorter than the specular
reflection point over the Earth’s surface. Then, seven possible causes of these anomalies are analysed,
reaching the conclusion that the anomalies are likely due to the signals being reflected from objects
above the Earth’s surface. Next, the positions of the objects are calculated using the delay and
Doppler information, and an appropriate geometry assumption. After that, suspect satellite objects
are searched in the satellite database from Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Finally, three objects
have been found to match the delay and Doppler conditions. In the absence of other reasons for these
anomalies, GNSS-R could potentially be used to detect some objects above the Earth’s surface.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
