The deep space network´s X/X/Ka feed: Modifications for 100 kW CW uplink operation

Author

Hoppe, Daniel J. ; Khayatian, Behrouz ; Sosnowski, John B.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

fYear

2010

fDate

11-17 July 2010

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

The Deep Space Network, which provides communication services for NASA´s robotic missions, consists of a number of 34m beam waveguide antennas and conventional 70m dual-reflector antennas located around the globe,. The 34m beam waveguide antennas employ a three-band feed covering the deep space uplink band near 7.2 GHz, and downlink bands at 8.45 and 32 GHz. Simultaneous uplink commanding at 25 kW CW and ultra low noise reception in both bands is supported along with monopulse tracking at 32 GHz,. An existing uplink capability of 25 kW is also available on the 70m antennas using a more conventional X/X diplexing feed. In order to provide an equivalent uplink capability with the 34m antennas the X/X/Ka feed is currently being modified for 100 kW CW operation,. Here we will discuss both the existing feed and the 100 kW modifications which are underway.

Keywords

reflector antenna feeds; space communication links; waveguide antennas; beam waveguide antennas; deep space network; dual-reflector antennas; power 100 kW; three-band feed; ultra low noise reception; uplink commanding; Antenna feeds; Band pass filters; Downlink; Junctions; Noise; Power harmonic filters;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI), 2010 IEEE

Conference_Location

Toronto, ON

ISSN

1522-3965

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4967-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/APS.2010.5560972

Filename

5560972