Citation
Abstract
The increase of the Deep Space Network antennas from 64-meter to 70-meter diameter represents the first of several improvements that will be made over the next decade to enhance earth-based radar sensitivity to solar-system targets. The aperture increase at the Goldstone DSS-14 site, coupled with a proposed increase in transmitter power to 1000 KW, will improve the 3.5-cm radar by about one order of magnitude. Similarly, proposed Arecibo Observatory upgrades of a Gregorian feed structure and an increase of transmutter power to 1000 kW will increase the sensitivity of this radar about 20-fold. In addition, a Goldstone-to-Very Large Array bistatic observation with horizon-to-horizon tracking will have 3.5 times more sensitivity than will a Goldstone horizon-to-horizon monostatic observation. All of these improvements, which should be in place within the next decade, will enrich an already fertile field of planetary exploration.
Details
- Volume
- 42-94
- Published
- August 15, 1988
- Pages
- 287–293
- File Size
- 264.2 KB