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Flight test of a synthetic aperture radar antenna using STEPTo establish confidence in its overall performance, credible information on the synthetic aperture radar antenna's mechanical properties in orbit must be obtained. However, the antenna's size, design, and operating environment make it difficult to simulate operating conditions under 1-g Earth conditions. The Space Technology Experiments Platform (STEP) offers a timely opportunity to mechanically qualify and characterize the antenna design in a representative environment. The proposed experimental configuration would employ a half-system of the full-scale RADARSAT antenna which would be mounted on the STEP platform in the orbiter cargo bay such that it could be deployed and retracted in orbit (as shown in this figure). The antenna would be subjected to typical environmental exposures while an array of targets and sensors on the antenna support structure and reflecting surface are observed and monitored. In particular, the typical environments would include deployment and retraction, dynamic response to vehicle thruster or base exciter inputs, and thermal soak and transient effects upon entering or exiting Earth eclipse. The proposed experiment would also provide generic information on the properties of large space structures in space and on techniques to obtain the desired information.
Document ID
19840009169
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Zimcik, D. G.
(Department of Communications Ottawa Ontario, Canada)
Vigeron, F. R.
(Department of Communications Ottawa Ontario, Canada)
Ahmed, S.
(Department of Communications Ottawa Ontario, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Langley Research Center STEP Expt. Requirements
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Accession Number
84N17237
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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