Continuous records of the total electron content of the ionosphere.
Automatic recording equipment measuring polarization angle of Syncom III 137 mc/s radio signal and determination of ionospheric total electron content
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Automatic recording equipment measuring polarization angle of Syncom III 137 mc/s radio signal and determination of ionospheric total electron content
Geographical location and optical path length effects upon fade margin required for desired propagation reliability of microwave signals
Deep-space communication capability spectral dependence analysis indicates optical transmissions would be several orders of magnitude poorer than RF technology
Electron density profiles along OGO 1 orbit portions calculated by measuring harmonic radio beacon transmissions differential Doppler frequencies and Faraday polarization rotation angle
Design and development of tracking receiver for tracking satellites and receiving radio signal transmissions under adverse noise conditions
No special equipment was placed onboard the vehicles for the bistatic radar experiments which were carried out during the lunar orbit phases of the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 flights. Radio frequency transmissions from the orbiting command service module were directed toward the moon and received on the earth after reflection from the lunar surface. Two wavelengths, 13 cm (2287.5 MHz, S-band) and 116 cm (259.7 MHz, VHF), were used. Data were obtained at the two wavelengths simultaneously during periods when the spacecraft was maneuvered to maintain a predetermined, although changing, attitude with respect to the earth and moon. Data were also obtained at the 116 cm wavelength during periods of inertial hold and SIM bay attitude maneuvers.
The Mariner Venus Mercury spacecraft (MVM) will be launched in a multiple planet flyby orbit. A coherent dual frequency down link operating at 2.3 and 8.4 GHz will be used to measure the dispersive nature of the transmission medium. Radio tracking will produce Doppler and range information at both 2.3 and 8.4 GHz so that the dispersive group and phase velocity perturbations of the medium can be measured. Interpretation of the dispersive results will yield information about the neutral and ionized atmospheres of Venus and Mercury, the interplanetary media, the solar wind, and corona.
An evaluation of the in-orbit performance of the instrumentation and communications systems installed on Skylab is presented. Performance is compared with functional requirements and the fidelity of communications. In-orbit performance includes processing engineering, scientific, experiment, and biomedical data, implementing ground-generated commands, audio and video communication, generating rendezvous ranging information, and radio frequency transmission and reception. A history of the system evolution based on the functional requirements and a physical description of the launch configuration is included. The report affirms that the instrumentation and communication system satisfied all imposed requirements.
In recent years powerful radio wave transmissions beamed at the ionosphere at frequencies somewhat below the penetration frequency of the F2 layer produced the following, mostly unexpected, spectacular effects: (1) artificial spread F seen on ionograms and implying the presence of large scale field-aligned irregularities in the ionospheric plasma density; (2) very strong additional absorption of probing waves reflected by the F2 layer; (3) field-aligned 'on frequency' scattering of UHF waves; (4) scattering of UHF waves by Langmuir waves which are believed to be parametrically excited; (5) the 630 nm airglow is artificially enhanced by a modifying wave of ordinary polarization but it is reduced in intensity by a modifying wave of extraordinary polarization; (6) the shape of the F2 layer is modified. The results of the observations are described and their tentative interpretation in terms of different parametric instabilities is outlined.
As electric propulsion systems become ready to integrate with spacecraft systems, the impact of propulsion system radiated emissions are of significant interest. Radiated emissions from electromagnetic, electrostatic, and electrothermal systems have been characterized and results synopsized from the literature describing 21 space flight programs. Electromagnetic radiated emission results from ground tests and flight experiences are presented with particular attention paid to the performance of spacecraft subsystems and payloads during thruster operations. The impacts to transmission of radio frequency signals through plasma plumes are also reviewed.
As electric propulsion systems become ready to integrate with spacecraft systems, the impact of propulsion system radiated emissions are of significant interest. Radiated emissions from electromagnetic, electrostatic, and electrothermal systems have been characterized and results synopsized from the literature describing 21 space flight programs. Electromagnetic radiated emission results from ground tests and flight experiences are presented with particular attention paid to the performance of spacecraft subsystems and payloads during thruster operations. The impacts to transmission of radio frequency signals through plasma plumes are also reviewed.
Data-communication adapter circuit on single printed-circuit board serves as general-purpose interface between personal computer and satellite communication system. Designed as direct interface with Ku-band data-communication system for payloads on space shuttle, also used with any radio-frequency transmission systems. Readily installed in almost any personal computer via widely used Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus.
The primary experimental objective of Project Echo was the transmission of radio communications between points on the earth by reflection from the balloon satellite. This paper describes system calculations made in preparation for the experiment and their adaptation to the problem of interpreting the results. The calculations include path loss computations, expected audio signal-to-noise ratios, and received signal strength based on orbital parameters.
The primary experimental objective of Project Echo was the transmission of radio communications between points on the earth by reflection from the balloon satellite. Owing to the large path losses from transmitter to receiver via the satellite, a wide-band frequency modulation technique was used in which bandwidth was traded for signal-to-noise ratio. This paper describes the FM receiving demodulators employed. Negative feedback applied to the local oscillator reduces the FM modulation index in the receiver IF amplifiers, resulting in threshold performance superior to that of conventional FM receivers.
Future space missions like the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) planned to orbit Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa can fully utilize a variable power radio sounder instrument. Radio sounding at 1 kHz to 10 MHz at medium power levels (10 W to kW) will provide long-range magnetospheric sounding (several Jovian radii) like those first pioneered by the radio plasma imager instrument on IMAGE at low power (less than l0 W) and much shorter distances (less than 5 R(sub E)). A radio sounder orbiting a Jovian icy moon would be able to globally measure time-variable electron densities in the moon ionosphere and the local magnetospheric environment. Near-spacecraft resonance and guided echoes respectively allow measurements of local field magnitude and local field line geometry, perturbed both by direct magnetospheric interactions and by induced components from subsurface oceans. JIMO would allow radio sounding transmissions at much higher powers (approx. 10 kW) making subsurface sounding of the Jovian icy moons possible at frequencies above the ionosphere peak plasma frequency. Subsurface variations in dielectric properties, can be probed for detection of dense and solid-liquid phase boundaries associated with oceans and related structures in overlying ice crusts.
Magnetic field response sensors are a class of sensors that are powered via oscillating magnetic fields, and when electrically active, respond with their own magnetic fields with attributes dependent upon the magnitude of the physical quantity being measured. A magnetic field response recorder powers and interrogates the magnetic sensors [see Magnetic-Field-Response Measurement- Acquisition System, NASA Tech Briefs Vol. 30, No, 6 (June 2006, page 28)]. Electrically conductive containers have low transmissivity for radio frequency (RF) energy and thus present problems for magnetic field response sensors. It is necessary in some applications to have a magnetic field response sensor s capacitor placed in these containers. Proximity to conductive surfaces alters the inductance and capacitance of the sensors. As the sensor gets closer to a conductive surface, the electric field and magnetic field energy of the sensor is reduced due to eddy currents being induced in the conductive surface. Therefore, the capacitors and inductors cannot be affixed to a conductive surface or embedded in a conductive material. It is necessary to have a fixed separation away from the conductive material. The minimum distance for separation is determined by the desired sensor response signal to noise ratio. Although the inductance is less than what it would be if it were not in proximity to the conductive surface, the inductance is fixed. As long as the inductance is fixed, all variations of the magnetic field response are due to capacitance changes. Numerous variations of inductor mounting can be utilized, such as providing a housing that provides separation from the conductive material as well as protection from impact damage. The sensor can be on the same flexible substrate with a narrow throat portion of the sensor between the inductor and the capacitor, Figure 1. The throat is of sufficient length to allow the capacitor to be appropriately placed within the container and the inductor placed outside the container. The throat is fed through the orifice in the container wall (e.g., fuel tank opening) and connects to the inductor and capacitor via electrical leads to form a closed circuit, Figure 2. Another embodiment is to have the inductor and capacitor fabricated as separate units. In this embodiment, the inductor is mounted external to the container, and the capacitor is mounted internal to the container, Figure 1. Electrical leads are fed through the orifice to connect the inductor and capacitor, Figure 2. When a container holding multiple sensors is made of a conductive material, an antenna can be placed internal to the container. An internal antenna allows all components of the sensors to reside inside the container. The antenna must be separated from the container wall s conductive surface. Additionally, the inductors must be maintained in a fixed position relative to and separated from the container
Evaluating the impact of radio frequency transmission in vehicle fairings is important to sensitive spacecraft. This paper employees the Multilevel Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM) feature of a commercial electromagnetic tool to model the fairing electromagnetic environment in the presence of an internal transmitter. This work is an extension of the perfect electric conductor model that was used to represent the bare aluminum internal fairing cavity. This fairing model includes typical acoustic blanketing commonly used in vehicle fairings. Representative material models within FEKO were successfully used to simulate the test case.
Evaluating the impact of radio frequency transmission in vehicle fairings is important to electromagnetically sensitive spacecraft. This study employs the multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM) from a commercial electromagnetic tool, FEKO, to model the fairing electromagnetic environment in the presence of an internal transmitter with improved accuracy over industry applied techniques. This fairing model includes material properties representative of acoustic blanketing commonly used in vehicles. Equivalent surface material models within FEKO were successfully applied to simulate the test case. Finally, a simplified model is presented using Nicholson Ross Weir derived blanket material properties. These properties are implemented with the coated metal option to reduce the model to one layer within the accuracy of the original three layer simulation.