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Hodges, Richard

Publications and source records attributed to Hodges, Richard.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Lightweight Composite Reflectarray That Can Be Flattened, Folded, and Coiled for Compact Stowage

Herein is presented a design for a lightweight 5m 1m radio-frequency (RF) re ector that can be attened, folded, and coiled for compact stowage on board an ESPA-class spacecraft. The re ector is a re ectarray that operates at 3.2GHz. Compared to state- of-the-art technologies for RF re ectors, the presented design has advantages in terms of areal density, sti ness, deployed stability, and scalability. Thermal and structural analysis is presented to demonstrate deployed sti ness and thermoelastic stability of the proposed design. Thermal analysis is used to predict in- space deployed temperatures in an operational condition, and structural nite element analysis is used to predict deployed vibration modes and frequencies, and the thermoelastic deformation of the deployed re ector. Also presented are the fabrication, assembly, and testing of two one-third-scale-length full-scale-width 1:7m 1m test articles. These test articles are used to experimentally demonstrate RF functioning, stowage, deployment, and RF performance after deployment.

Pellegrino, Sergio↗
NASA NTRS2020

Experimental Validation of Swarm Array Results Using Mars Cube One (Marco) A,B Downlink Signals

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of calibrating an orbiting phased array composed of CubeSat class spacecraft together with a larger reference (or “chief”) spacecraft, comprising an overall Swarm Array. Considered as an analog to the Deep Space Network (DSN) Uplink Arraying problem [1], a spaceborne Swarm Array that can potentially deliver comparable or even greater operational performance than large monolithic spacecraft (such as increased data rates for telecommunications, or greater baselines for improved spatial resolution), thus increasing future mission capability but with significantly enhanced flexibility, evolvability and robustness.

Kahan, Daniel↗
NASA NTRS2020

Experimental Validation of Swarm Array Results Using Mars Cube One (MarCO) A,B Downlink Signals

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of calibrating an orbiting phaased array composed of CubeSat class spacecraft together with a larger reference (or “chief”) spacecraft, comprising an overall Swarm Array. Considered as an analog to the Deep Space Network (DSN) Uplink Arraying problem [1], a spaceborne Swarm Array that can potentially deliver comparable or even greater operational performance than large monolithic spacecraft (such as increased datarates for telecommunications, or greater baselines for improved spatial resolution), thus increasing future mission capability but with significantly enhanced flexibility, evolvability and robustness.

Vilnrotter, Victor↗
NASA NTRS2020

Integration, Test, and On-Orbit Operation of a Ka-band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for CubeSats

In the past decade, CubeSats have undergone a revolution, moving from universityresearch projects to enabling industry opportunities and government missions. Six yearsago, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL/Caltech)initiated a research and technology development effort to advance CubeSat communicationcapabilities, with one of the key thrusts being the Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna(KaPDA). This antenna started with the ambitious goal of fitting a 42 dB, 0.5 meter, 35 GHzantenna in a 1.5U canister. At that time, there had been very limited development in the areaof high gain CubeSat antennas which are critical for both high data rate communicationsand remote sensing science. A Ka-band high gain antenna would provide a 10,000 timesincrease in data communication rates over an X-band patch antenna and a 100 timesincrease over state-of-the-art S-band parabolic antennas. This paper discusses the process ofbuilding, integrating, and operating the flight antenna, its final performance and lessonslearned. KaPDA was an enabling technology for RainCube mission, the first Earth ScienceCubeSat to have an active instrument. RainCube was launched in May of 2018, makingKaPDA the second deployable parabolic antenna to fly on a CubeSat and the first of its kindto operate at Ka-band enabling a number of opportunities for high rate, deep space antennacommunications and remote sensing science.

Thomson, Mark W.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Distributed Swarm Antenna Arrays for Deep Space Applications

It is desirable to develop a high Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP), autonomous, distributed, reconfigurable, on-demand Ka/X-band transmit-antenna array using small satellites, for deepspace communication (Mars and beyond). Our work shows that a distributed, free-flying swarm array composed of N CubeSats can not only be phased to provide a coherent beam in Ka/X-band, with performance (mass, power, data rate) comparable to the state-of-the-art Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), but with N large, higher performance and data rates can be achieved, assuming a proper intra-swarm metrology system is in place.

Bevilacqua, Stefano↗
NASA NTRS2018

Lessons Learned from a Deployment Mechanism for a Ka-band Deployable Antenna for CubeSats

The Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna (KaPDA) is a 0.5 meter diameter antenna which fits in a tiny, CubeSat compatible 10 cm by 10 cm by 16 cm volume. The design evolved from a rough concept in an R&D proposal to a fully flight qualified design, scheduled for launch in May of 2018, in a timeframe of just 4 years. This paper focuses on key lessons learned on maintaining precision through structural depth, use of fixtures and additive manufacturing for fabrication, the design of robust, deterministic mechanisms, and the dangers of friction and press fits

Thomson, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2017

From Prototype to Flight: Qualifying a Ka-Band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for CubeSats

CubeSats have experienced a number of exciting technological advancements in the past several years. However, until recently, there has been very limited development in the area of high gain CubeSat antennas, which are critical for both high data rate communications and radar science. A Ka-band high gain antenna would provide a 10,000 times increase in data communication rates over an X-band patch antenna and a 100 times increase over state-of-the-art S-band parabolic antennas. Because of this, three years ago the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) initiated a research and technology development effort to advance CubeSat communication capabilities, with one of the key thrusts being the Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna (KaPDA). This antenna started with the ambitious goal of fitting a 42 dB, 0.5 meter, 35 Ghz antenna in a 1.5U (10 cm x 10 cm x 17 cm) canister. This paper discusses the process of taking the antenna from a first prototype to the flight design, which is flying on the RainCube mission, and earth science CubeSat. The prototype antenna was constructed in early 2015, and then upgraded to an engineering model at the end of 2016 to compensate for lessons learned. The flight version is currently under construction, and scheduled to be finished in 2016. KaPDA is the second deployable parabolic antenna to fly on a CubeSat, and the first of its kind to operate at Ka-band enabling a number of opportunities for high rate deep space antenna communications and radar science.

Sauder, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS2017

From Prototype to Flight: Qualifying a Ka-Band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for CubeSats

CubeSats have experienced a number of exciting technological advancements in the past several years. However, until recently, there has been very limited development in the area of high gain CubeSat antennas, which are critical for both high data rate communications and radar science. A Ka-band high gain antenna would provide a 10,000 times increase in data communication rates over an X-band patch antenna and a 100 times increase over state-of-the-art S-band parabolic antennas. Because of this, three years ago the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) initiated a research and technology development effort to advance CubeSat communication capabilities, with one of the key thrusts being the Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna (KaPDA). This antenna started with the ambitious goal of fitting a 42 dB, 0.5 meter, 35 Ghz antenna in a 1.5U canister. This paper discusses the process of taking the antenna from a first prototype to the flight design, how the design successfully met its goals, and lessons learned. A prototype antenna was constructed in early 2015, and then upgraded to an engineering model at the end of 2016. KaPDA will be flying on the RainCube mission, and earth science CubeSat. KaPDA is the second deployable parabolic antenna to fly on a CubeSat, and the first of its kind to operate at Ka-band enabling a number of opportunities for high rate deep space antenna communications and radar science.

Sauder, Jonathan↗