Design of a Combined Beacon Receiver and Digital Radiometer for 40 GHz Propagation Measurements at the Madrid Deep Space Communications ComplexNASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have jointly developed an atmospheric propagation terminal to measure and characterize propagation phenomena at 40 GHz at the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) in Robledo de Chavela, Spain. The hybrid Q-band system combines a 40 GHz beacon receiver and digital radiometer into the same RF front-end and observes the 39.402 GHz beacon of the European Space Agencys Alphasat Aldo Paraboni TDP5 experiment. The goals of these measurements are to assist MDSCC mission operations as well as to contribute to the development and improvement of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) models for prediction of communications systems performance within the Q-band. Herein, we provide an overview of the system design, characterization, and plan of operations to commence at the MDSCC beginning in March 2017.
Document ID
20170007953
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Zemba, Michael J. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Nessel, James A. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Morabito, David D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2017
Publication Date
August 19, 2017
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN39539
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Union of Radio Science (URSI) General Assembly & Scientific Symposium
IDRelationTitle20180000921See AlsoDesign of a Combined Beacon Receiver and Digital Radiometer for 40 GHz Propagation Measurements at the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex