Low Noise Microwave Receiving Systems on a 64 m Antenna

Author

Reid, M.S. ; Bathker, D.A.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA, USA

fYear

1972

fDate

22-24 May 1972

Firstpage

17

Lastpage

20

Abstract

The performance capability at S-, X- and K-band of the NASA/JPL 64 m Cassegrain antenna at Goldstone, California, is reviewed. The multiple feed system allows X- and K-band atmospheric research studies to be conducted simultaneously with mission directed S-band spacecraft tracking. A description of the antenna system and its multiple operation is followed by gain and efficiency comparisons at the three frequencies. The total operating system temperature, and its frequency dependence, is presented and discussed. Antenna gain and efficiency, and zenith system operating temperature are summarized, at S- and X-band respectively, by 62 dB, 63%, 16K; and 72 dB, 52%, 24K. Preliminary measurements for K-band are 76 dB, 39%, 29K.

Keywords

UHF antennas; antenna feeds; microwave antennas; microwave receivers; space vehicles; tracking; California; Goldstone; K-band antenna; NASA-JPL Cassegrain antenna; S-band antenna; X-band antenna; antenna efficiency; antenna gain; efficiency 39 percent; efficiency 52 percent; efficiency 63 percent; gain 62 dB; gain 72 dB; gain 76 dB; low-noise microwave receiving systems; mission directed S-band spacecraft tracking; multiple-feed system; performance capability; size 64 m; temperature 16 K; temperature 24 K; temperature 29 K; zenith system operating temperature; Antenna measurements; Feeds; Frequency dependence; K-band; Microwave antennas; NASA; Operating systems; Receiving antennas; Space vehicles; Temperature dependence;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Symposium, 1972 IEEE GMTT International

Conference_Location

Arlington Heights, IL

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/GMTT.1972.1122977

Filename

1122977