Barry Geldzahler, NASA- HQ
Keywords: phased arrays, coherent uplink, NEOs, orbital debris, SSA
Abstract:
NASA is pursuing a demonstration of coherent uplink arraying at 7.145-7.190 GHz (X-band) and 30-31 GHz (Ka-band) at using three 12m diameter COTS antennas separated by 60m at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, we have used up to three 34m antennas separated by ~250m at the Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex in California and at X-band 7.1 GHz incorporating real-time correction for tropospheric phase fluctuations. Such a demonstration would then enable NASA to establish a high power, high resolution, 24/7 availability radar system for (a) tracking and characterizing observations of Near Earth Objects, (b) tracking, characterizing and determining the statistics of small-scale (?10cm) orbital debris, (c) incorporating the capability into its space communication and navigation tracking stations for emergency spacecraft commanding in the Ka band era which NASA is entering, and (d) fielding capabilities of interest to other US government agencies. We present herein the results of our phased array uplink combining at near 7.17 and 8.3 GHz using widely separated antennas demonstrations at both locales, the results of a study to upgrade from a communication to a radar system, and our vision for going forward.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2015
Track: Space Situational Awareness