PROJECT VANGUARD REPT. NO. 18. MINITRACK REPT. NO. 1: PHASE MEASUREMENT
Abstract
The "Minitrack" system for tracking an artificial earth satellite, which has been developed as a part of Project Vanguard, is described briefly, and the phase measurement portion of this system is described in detail. The actual measurements performed by Minitrack are phase comparisons of signals resulting from the illumination of the ground station antenna field by the satellite transmitter. Eight antennas arranged in five pairs along two orthogonal base-lines feed rf receivers which convert rf signals to the af signals used in the actual phase comparisons. The phase measurement equipment is designed to perform the desired phase comparisons and provide analog records of all five phase comparisons with an error of less than 1 percent, and to provide digital records of the two "fine" channels with an error of less than 0. 1 percent, corresponding to a space angle error of 4 seconds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 1957
- Accession Number
- AD0139582
Entities
People
- C. A. Schroeder
- C. H. Looney Jr.
- H. E. Carpenter Jr.
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory