AN/MPS-39 support of U.S. space launch activities

Author

Hudson, Bruce

Author_Institution

Martin Marietta Gov. Electron. Syst., Moorestown, NJ, USA

fYear

1995

fDate

8-11 May 1995

Firstpage

39

Lastpage

43

Abstract

Until 1991 all precision radar tracking at the two major U.S. space launch ranges (Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg AFB, CA) was performed by dish antenna single target trackers. The introduction of the AN/MPS-39 multiple object tracking radar (MOTR) at these launch facilities has expanded the tracking and mission characterization capabilities at these facilities. MOTR is a phased array instrumentation radar that can simultaneously track up to ten objects within a 60 degree cone. The paper describes some of the MOTR data products and applications employed in support of U.S. space launches, including those used to support investigation of two space launch mishaps that occurred in 1993, a Titan IV exploding in flight and Landsat 6 failing to achieve orbit

Keywords

ground support systems; phased array radar; position measurement; radar tracking; rockets; AN/MPS-39; Cape Canaveral; Landsat 6; Titan IV; US space launch activities; Vandenberg AFB; data products; launch facilities; multiple object tracking radar; phased array instrumentation radar; precision radar tracking; Aperture antennas; Azimuth; Frequency; Instruments; Phased arrays; Radar antennas; Radar tracking; Skin; Target tracking; Vehicle safety;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Radar Conference, 1995., Record of the IEEE 1995 International

Conference_Location

Alexandria, VA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2121-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/RADAR.1995.522516

Filename

522516