Title :
Technologies for the next generation of spaceborne precipitation radars
Author :
Sadowy, Greg ; Berkun, Andy ; Durden, Steve ; Huang, John ; Im, Eastwood ; Lopez, Bemardo ; Lou, Michael ; Rahmat-Samii, Yahya ; Liu, Fan-Yun ; Rengarajan, Sembiam
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
The precipitation radar (PR) aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) has demonstrated the feasibility of measuring rainfall from space. A concept for the next step, the Second Generation Precipitation Radar (PR-2), has been developed. The PR-2 will yield improved capabilities and substantially reduced system mass compared to the TRMM PR. However, implementation of the PR-2 concept depends upon the development of several technologies including membrane antennas with inflatable structure, Ka-band phased arrays and real time digital pulse compression. Development is currently underway in these areas. This paper surveys the technologies for the PR-2 and describes developments in each aforementioned area
Keywords :
antenna feeds; atmospheric measuring apparatus; computerised instrumentation; geophysical signal processing; phased array radar; pulse compression; radar antennas; rain; real-time systems; reflector antennas; remote sensing by radar; signal processing equipment; slot antenna arrays; spaceborne radar; Ka-band phased arrays; PR-2; Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission; feasibility; inflatable structure; membrane antennas; real time digital pulse compression; second generation spaceborne radar; spaceborne precipitation radars; Antenna arrays; Antenna measurements; Biomembranes; Extraterrestrial measurements; Phased arrays; Radar antennas; Radar measurements; Space missions; Space technology; Spaceborne radar;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE Proceedings.
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6599-2
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2001.931497
