Citation
Abstract
The activities of the Venus Station (DSS 13) and the Microwave Test Facility (MTF} during the period October 11, 1976, through February 13, 1977, are discussed and progress noted. A significant effort on implementation of equipment for the planned conversion of DSS 13 to unattended operation is discussed. The Receiver and Microwave Subsystem are near completion, and the new feedcone and position encoders have been implemented onto the 26-m antenna. Support of the 400-kW X-band radar, located at DSS 14, is reported, and the activities of the DSN High Power Transmitter Maintenance Facility (HPTMF’), located at DSS 13 and MTF, are discussed. The successful completion of the first series of observations planned for VLBI validation is reported and significant station maintenance activities are briefly covered. Clock synchronization transmissions to DSS 43 and DSS 63 are reported, and an evaluation of any pointing errors in the new 26-m antenna position transducer are made. Extensive tracking support for various Advanced Systems Development and Ground Based Radio Science activities is reported. In particular, VLBI observations for DSN platform parameters, interplanetary scintillation of signals from the Viking spacecraft at small SEP angles, planetary radio astronomy, radio frequency interference analysis, and geo-stationary satellite radar cross section experiments were supported and are discussed.
Details
- Volume
- 42-38
- Published
- April 15, 1977
- Pages
- 199–202
- File Size
- 403.5 KB