Citation
Abstract
Development of very large arrays of small antennas has been proposed as a way to increase the downlink capability of the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) by two or three orders of magnitude, thereby enabling greatly increased science data from currently configured missions or enabling new mission concepts. The current concept is for an array of 400 × 12-m antennas at each of three longitudes [1]. The DSN array will utilize radio astronomy sources for phase calibration and will have wide-bandwidth correlation processing for this purpose. A program currently is under way to develop the technology and prove the performance and cost of a very large DSN array. The program includes a three-element interferometer to be completed by late 2004. This article describes the design and development of the low-cost 6-meter breadboard antenna to be used as part of the interferometer.
Details
- Volume
- 42-157
- Published
- May 15, 2004
- Pages
- 1–12
- File Size
- 749.8 KB