Citation
Abstract
A precision geodetic measurement system (ARIES for Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) based on the technique of very long baseline interferometry has been designed and implemented through the refurbishment of a 9-m transportable antenna, together with the 64-m Goldstone antenna (DSS 14) of the Deep Space Network. A series of experiments designed to demonstrate the inherent accuracy of the transportable interferometer concept was performed on a 307-m baseline during the period from December 1973 to June 1974. This short baseline was chosen in order to obtain a comparison with a conventional survey with few-centimeter accuracy and to minimize interferometry errors due to transmission media effects, source locations, and Earth orientation parameters. These interferometry measurements, representing approximately 28 hours of data, were in excellent agreement with the survey baseline in all dimensions within the formal uncertainty of 3 cm. The ARIES transportable antenna has now entered its next phase of demonstrations over a 180-km baseline (Goldstone to JPL) and has initiated a tectonic motion monitoring program within the southwestern United States.
Details
- Volume
- 42-26
- Published
- April 15, 1975
- Pages
- 41–53
- File Size
- 1.7 MB