Citation
Abstract
The International Comet Exploration spacecraft will spend 2.4 years in a solar electric propulsion stage (SEPS) cruise mode, during which the health of the spacecraft will be monitored at least once a day. Although a daily two-hour DSN pass is now planned, the same surveillance function can be carried out by a much smaller, cheaper system. The system studied here uses a commercial fast Fourier transform spectrum analyzer for noncoherent, synchronous detection of an alternating-tone signal received by a small parabolic antenna (0.8 to 3 m in diameter). Integration times vary from 3.7 to 9.5 min.
Details
- Volume
- 42-55
- Published
- February 15, 1980
- Pages
- 50–62
- File Size
- 1.0 MB