Tropospheric/ionospheric transmission tests

Abstract

Four tests are described which are designed to evaluate the magnitude, type, and frequency of occurence of amplitude and phase variations in the solar power satellite power (SPS) beam as seen by the rectenna. Particular attention is given to the degree of deviation in the propagation observed under two conditions unique to the SPS: monochromaticity; and smallness of the effective aperture of individual rectenna element dipoles.