Citation
Abstract
A Precision Signal Power Measurement System was built for research, development, and demonstration of a digital technique for the measurement of spacecraft signal power. Demonstrations at DSS 14 have shown that the method is valid. Since the process relies heavily on digital computations and computers are in short supply at deep space stations, it was necessary to determine if centralized computation could be done. To test this feasibility, the system described in this article was developed from existing subsystems and additional or new programs. During design of this system, parameters and relationships were developed to predict the behavior of the completed system. Tests of this system in January 1971 showed that it performed as predicted. The final demonstration was conducted using the Mark IIA hardware/software system in the Mission Control and Computing Center. The results indicate that remote processing of precision signal power measurement data is technically feasible. As implemented, the technique is limited to narrow-band spectra of signals with power levels between —140 and —170 dBm.
Details
- Volume
- XV
- Published
- June 15, 1973
- Pages
- 116–127
- File Size
- 1013.8 KB