Citation

Abstract

Microwave antenna holography is traditionally done in the Deep Space Network (DSN) with beacons coming from Ku-band geostationary satellites and a small 3-meter dish as reference antenna. This reports shows a new tool that has been integrated into the antenna calibration and measurement equipment (ACME) that allows making holographies at DSN frequency bands using other antennas from the complex as the reference. This tool is based on a software cross-correlator implemented in a graphics processing unit (GPU) that can process bandwidths up to 100 MHz. With this capacity, wideband signals from spacecrafts or radio stars can be used to perform the correlation. A signal model is developed and main system budgets are calculated. Finally, some actual measurements done with this new system are shown.

Keywords

DSN antennas connected-element interferometer holography common platform

Details

Volume
42-241
Published
May 15, 2025
Pages
1–19
File Size
0.2 MB