Evolution of the Deep Space Network 34-m diameter antennas

Author

Imbriale, W.A.

Author_Institution

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

Volume

3

fYear

1998

fDate

21-28 Mar 1998

Firstpage

403

Abstract

The principal responsibilities of the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) are to support unmanned interplanetary spacecraft missions and to support radio and radar astronomy observations in the exploration of the solar system and the universe. At each of the three complexes there are multiple large parabolic dish antennas equipped with ultra sensitive receiving systems. This report details the evolution of the design of the 34-meter diameter antennas. The design is traced from its initial 26-meter operation at L-band (960 MHz) though the present 34-meter beamwaveguide designs that support S-band (2 GHz), X-band (8 GHz)and Ka-band (32 GHz)

Keywords

microwave antennas; reflector antennas; space communication links; 2 GHz; 32 GHz; 34 m; 8 GHz; Ka-band; NASA Deep Space Network; S-band; X-band; beamwaveguide designs; multiple large parabolic dish antennas; radar astronomy observations; radioastronomy observations; reflector antennas; ultra sensitive receiving systems; unmanned interplanetary spacecraft missions; Antenna measurements; Astronomy; Decision support systems; Extraterrestrial measurements; Feeds; Optical design; Radar antennas; Receiving antennas; Space technology; Space vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 1998 IEEE

Conference_Location

Snowmass at Aspen, CO

ISSN

1095-323X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4311-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.1998.685847

Filename

685847