Title :
The Twerle Balloon-to-Satellite Data Transmitting System
Author :
Levanon, Nadav ; Afanasjevs, Juris ; Ellington, Scott D. ; Oehlkers, Robert A. ; Suomi, Verner E. ; Lichfield, Ernest W. ; Gray, Michael W.
Author_Institution :
Space Science and Engineering Center, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Abstract :
This paper describes the balloon instrumentation system which provides the one-way link for data gathering and navigation in the Tropical Wind, Energy conversion and Reference Level Experiment (TWERLE). In this experiment 400 instrumented constant-level balloons will be launched at the southern hemisphere during 1975. The Random Access Measurement System (RAMS) on board the NIMBUS-F satellite, will comprise the receiving end of the link. The data encoder, stable oscillator, transmitter and antenna are described, as well as two supporting components, the power source and the magnetic cutdown. These six items weigh 850 g. The oscillator-transmitter consume 1.9 W dc power to provide 0.6 W phase modulated RF power. Standby dc power consumption is 0.3 W.
Keywords :
Antenna accessories; Antenna measurements; Energy conversion; Instruments; Oscillators; Phase modulation; Satellite navigation systems; Transmitters; Transmitting antennas; Wind energy;
Journal_Title :
Geoscience Electronics, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TGE.1975.294371