ATS-6 spacecraft: In-flight antenna pattern measurement

Antenna patterns, principally associated with the 9.1 meter parabolic antenna of the ATS-6 spacecraft, were measured while in orbit at quasi-stationary synchronous altitude. Controlling the spacecraft attitude permitted a scanning of the spacecraft antenna pattern over the Rosman ground station, thus achieving the measurement of the antenna pattern contour. Patterns were determined in terms of relative gain referenced in position to the spacecraft body coordinates by means of signal power measurements made using a linear detector. These data were subsequently correlated with the attitude data to define the antenna patterns. Antenna patterns measured are presented and compared with available preflight patterns.