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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Examples Of Synthesis Of Dual-Shaped Reflectors

Report presents examples to demonstrate validity and utility of method of synthesis of offset dual-shape reflectors. Method of synthesis described by the authors in previous journal article. Current report reviews derivation of partial differential equations and iterative method of numerical solution. Discusses significance of starting point of numerical integration on each reflector surface; this point could be at center, on outer rim, or at interior point. Emphasizes that one of notable attributes of partial differential equations is speed with which they can be solved.

Galindo, Victor↗
NASA NTRS1991

Effect of an arcjet plume on satellite reflector performance

The effect of an arcjet plume on the performance of satellite reflector antennas is studied. The arcjet plume is modeled as a weakly ionized plasma. The spatial permittivity distribution of the plume is approximated using the measured electron density profile and a cold plasma model. Geometrical optics is applied to determine the ray paths as well as the transmitted fields through the inhomogeneous plume. The ray optics results are compared against several exact solutions for scattering from inhomogeneous dielectrics, and good agreement is observed for sufficiently large scatterer size. The far-field antenna patterns of the reflector in the presence of the plume are calculated from the transmitted ray fields using a ray-tube integration scheme. For arcjet prototypes in the 1-kW class, the plume effect on the antenna performance is small. As the electron density increases, the main beam and sidelobe level gradually degrade. The main beam also tends to squint away from the plume region.

Ling, Hao↗
NASA NTRS1991

Dynamic performance modeling and stability analysis of a segmented reflector telescope

The problem of vibration suppression in segmented reflector telescopes is considered. The decomposition of the structure into smaller components is discussed, and control laws for vibration suppression and conditions for stability at the local and global levels are presented. The states of the reflector segments are mapped into ray displacements on the detector plane.

Ryaciotaki-Boussalis, Helen A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Active member vibration control for a 4 meter primary reflector support structure

The design and testing of a new low voltage piezoelectric active member with integrated load cell and displacement sensor is described. This active member is intended for micron level vibration and structural shape control of the Precision Segmented Reflector test-bed. The test-bed is an erectable 4 meter diameter backup support truss for a 2.4 meter focal length parabolic reflector. Active damping of the test-bed is then demonstrated using the newly developed active members. The control technique used is referred to as bridge feedback. With this technique the internal sensors are used in a local feedback loop to match the active member's input impedance to the structure's load impedance, which then maximizes vibrational energy dissipation. The active damping effectiveness is then evaluated from closed loop frequency responses.

Umland, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Millimeter-wave double-dipole antennas for high-gain integrated reflector illumination

A double-dipole antenna backed by a ground plane has been fabricated for submillimeter wavelengths. The double-dipole antenna is integrated on a thin dielectric membrane with a planar detector at its center. Measured feed patterns at 246 GHz agree well with theory and demonstrate a rotationally symmetric pattern with high coupling efficiency to Gaussian beams. The input impedance is around 50 ohms, and will match well to a Schottky diode or SIS detector. The double-dipole antenna served as the feed for a small machined parabolic reflector. The integrated reflector had a measured gain of 37 dB at 119 microns. This makes the double-dipole antenna ideally suited as a feed for high resolution tracking or for long focal length Cassegrain antenna systems.

Filipovic, Daniel F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Diffraction Analysis Of Reflector Antennas

POMESH is computer program capable of predicting performance of reflector antennas. Calculates both farfield patterns and gains by use of physical-optics approximation of equivalent surface currents. Intended for relatively small reflectors. Useful in situations in which surfaces described by irregular data that must be interpolated and in which surface derivatives not known. Flexible and robust. Also calculates near fields and useful for subreflector computations. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Hodges, Richard E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) system concept and technology definition study. Volume 1: Executive summary, analyses and trades, and system concepts

A study was conducted to define reasonable and representative large deployable reflector (LDR) system concepts for the purpose of defining a technology development program aimed at providing the requisite technological capability necessary to start LDR development by the end of 1991. This volume includes the executive summary for the total study, a report of thirteen system analysis and trades tasks (optical configuration, aperture size, reflector material, segmented mirror, optical subsystem, thermal, pointing and control, transportation to orbit, structures, contamination control, orbital parameters, orbital environment, and spacecraft functions), and descriptions of three selected LDR system concepts. Supporting information is contained in appendices.

Agnew, Donald L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Feasibility study of a synthesis procedure for array feeds to improve radiation performance of large distorted reflector antennas

Virginia Tech has several articles which support the NASA Langley effort in the area of large aperture radiometric antenna systems. This semi-annual report reports on the following activities: a feasibility study of a synthesis procedure for array feeds to improve radiation performance of large distorted reflector antennas and the design of array feeds for large reflector antennas.

Stutzman, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

System overview on electromagnetic compensation for reflector antenna surface distortion

The system requirements and hardware implementation for electromagnetic compensation of antenna performance degradations due to thermal effects was investigated. Future commercial space communication antenna systems will utilize the 20/30 GHz frequency spectrum and support very narrow multiple beams (0.3 deg) over wide angle field of view (15-20 beamwidth). On the ground, portable and inexpensive very small aperture terminals (VSAT) for transmitting and receiving video, facsimile and data will be employed. These types of communication system puts a very stringent requirement on spacecraft antenna beam pointing stability (less than .01 deg), high gain (greater than 50 dB) and very lowside lobes (less than -25 dB). Thermal analysis performed on the advanced communication technology satellite (ACTS) has shown that the reflector surfaces, the mechanical supporting structures and metallic surfaces on the spacecraft body will distort due thermal effects from a varying solar flux. The antenna performance characteristics (e.g., pointing stability, gain, side lobe, etc.) will degrade due to thermal distortion in the reflector surface and supporting structures. Specifically, antenna RF radiation analysis has shown that pointing error is the most sensitive antenna performance parameter to thermal distortions. Other antenna parameters like peak gain, cross polarization level (beam isolation), and side lobe level will also degrade with thermal distortions. In order to restore pointing stability and in general antenna performance several compensation methods were proposed. In general these compensation methods can be classified as being either of mechanical or electromagnetic type. This paper will address only the later one. In this approach an adaptive phased array antenna feed is used to compensate for the antenna performance degradation. Extensive work has been devoted to demonstrate the feasibility of adaptive feed compensation on space communication antenna systems. This paper addresses the system requirements for such a system and identify candidate technologies (analog and digital) for possible hardware implementation.

Acosta, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Characteristics of a dynamic holographic sensor for shape control of a large reflector

Design of a distributed holographic interferometric sensor for measuring the surface displacement of a large segmented reflector is proposed. The reflector's surface is illuminated by laser light of two wavelengths and volume holographic gratings are formed in photorefractive crystals of the wavefront returned from the surface. The sensor is based on holographic contouring with a multiple frequency source. It is shown that the most stringent requirement of temporal stability affects both the temporal resolution and the dynamic range. Principal factor which limit the sensor performance include the response time of photorefractive crystal, laser power required to write a hologram, and the size of photorefractive crystal.

Welch, Sharon S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaluation of frequency-selective reflector antenna systems

The performance of a four-frequency (S/X/Ku/Ku bands) frequency-selective surface (FSS) with double-ring elements (the type of geometry particularly well suited for the circular polarization requirement of the NASA's Cassini project) is evaluated for a planar and a curved FSS subreflector in a dual reflector antenna system. Good agreement is obtained between the calculated and measured data for the planar FSS model. The FSS effects in a four-frequency Cassegrain reflector antenna were accurately evaluated by taking into account the surface curvature and the FSS subreflector's transmitted/reflected field variation as functions of the polarization and the incident angles with respect to the local coordinates.

Wu, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Cost and reliability study for a large array of small reflector antennas for JPL/NASA Deep Space Network (DSN)

A study performed to estimate the cost of an array of small aperture reflector antennas to be used instead of or in conjunction with the current large reflector antennas of the JPL/NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is described. The arrays are used for servicing present and future NASA missions that involve smaller spacecraft with limited power and smaller, lower-gain antennas. The advantages of the array configuration in terms of cost and reliability are discussed. A probabilistic determination of the reliability and availability of the array as a function of the number of array elements and the availability of individual array elements is made. The impact of additional marginal elements on the operational availability of the array is studied. Parametric cost and reliability plots are presented and directions for further investigation are outlined.

Jamnejad, Vahraz↗
NASA NTRS1993

An almost 'perfectly' diffuse, 'perfect' reflector for far-infrared reflectance calibration

Specular and diffuse reflectance measurements made near normal incidence of two very rough, solid aluminum surfaces are presented for the wavelength range from 2.2 to 512 microns. The diffuse measurements made at nonspecular angles by two different detectors indicate that between 33 and 201 microns the reflectance of one surface is nearly Lambertian (isotropic) with a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) value within 32 percent of the theoretical value of (1/pi)/sr for a perfectly diffuse, perfect reflector. Photometric reflectance spectra at the specular angle show that between 6.9 and 100 microns the specular BRDF of these surfaces is within 5 percent of the theoretical value of (1/pi)/sr. At longer wavelengths of 235, 320, and 512 microns the specular reflectance rapidly departs from that of a perfectly diffuse, perfect reflector. The two samples studied have rms surface roughnesses of 44 and 60 microns. A durable metal surface with these near perfect reflectance characteristics can be advantageously used in the FIR as a black-body source, the interior surface of an integrating sphere, and most especially as an absolute calibration standard. BRDF measurements at 40 deg incidence, though still highly diffuse, show a significant departure from Lambertian reflectance.

Smith, Sheldon M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Frequency-Selective Microwave Reflectors

Lightweight dichroic reflector panels developed for use in multiplexing electromagnetic waves at three or four microwave frequencies. Basic requirement: panels be highly reflective in X and Ka bands and highly transmissive in Ku and S bands. Intended application in subreflector of main paraboloidal reflector to enable simultaneous operation in both prime-focus configuration in Ku and S bands and Cassegrain configuration in X and Ka bands.

Wu, Te-Kao↗
NASA NTRS1993

A physical optics/equivalent currents model for the RCS of trihedral corner reflectors

The scattering in the interior regions of both square and triangular trihedral corner reflectors is examined. The theoretical model presented combines geometrical and physical optics (GO and PO), used to account for reflection terms, with equivalent edge currents (EEC), used to account for first-order diffractions from the edges. First-order, second-order, and third-order reflection terms are included. Calculating the first-order reflection terms involves integrating over the entire surface of the illuminated plate. Calculating the second- and third-order reflection terms, however, is much more difficult because the illuminated area is an arbitrary polygon whose shape is dependent upon the incident angles. The method for determining the area of integration is detailed. Extensive comparisons between the high-frequency model, Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) and experimental data are used for validation of the radar cross section (RCS) of both square and triangular trihedral reflectors.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

K- and Ka-band mobile-vehicular satellite-tracking reflector antenna system for the NASA ACTS mobile terminal

This paper describes the development of the K- and Ka-band mobile-vehicular satellite-tracking reflector antenna system for NASA's ACTS Mobile Terminal (AMT) project. ACTS is NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellites. The AMT project will make the first experimental use of ACTS soon after the satellite is operational, to demonstrate mobile communications via the satellite from a van on the road. The AMT antenna system consists of a mechanically steered small reflector antenna, using a shared aperture for both frequency bands and fitting under a radome of 23 cm diameter and 10 cm height, and a microprocessor controlled antenna controller that tracks the satellite as the vehicle moves about. The RF and mechanical characteristics of the antenna and the antenna tracking control system are discussed. Measurements of the antenna performance are presented.

Densmore, Art↗
NASA NTRS1994

Double-loop frequency selective surfaces for multi frequency division multiplexing in a dual reflector antenna

A multireflector antenna utilizes a frequency-selective surface (FSS) in a subreflector to allow signals in two different RF bands to be selectively reflected back into a main reflector and to allow signals in other RF bands to be transmitted through it to the main reflector for primary focus transmission. A first approach requires only one FSS at the subreflector which may be an array of double-square-loop conductive elements. A second approach uses two FSS's at the subreflector which may be an array of either double-square-loop (DSL) or double-ring (DR). In the case of DR elements, they may be advantageously arranged in a triangular array instead of the rectangular array for the DSL elements.

Wu, Te-Kao↗
NASA NTRS1995

A method using focal plane analysis to determine the performance of reflector antennas

Reflector antenna optimization schemes using array feeds have been used to recover antenna losses resulting from antenna distortions and aberrations and to generate contour coverage patterns. Historically, these optimizations have been carried out using the antenna far-field scattered patterns. The far-field patterns must be calculated separately for each of the array feed elements. For large or complex antennas (which include beam-waveguide antennas), the far-field calculation times can be prohibitive. This article presents a method with which the optimization can be carried out in the antenna focal region, where the scattering calculation needs only to be done once independently of the number of the elements in the array. This article also includes the results of a study, utilizing this unique technique, to determine the capabilities and limitations of using array feeds to compensate for gravitational induced losses in large reflector antennas.

Cramer, P. W.↗