USE OF AUTOMATIC ANGLE RETURN ARRAYS FOR COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES

Abstract

An investigation is made of automatic angle return satellite arrays for both passive and active systems. Automatic angle return arrays, called Van Atta arrays, return a signal in the direction of incidence of the impinging signal, and are effective over an angle of at least + or - 45 degrees from the array axis. As a result, only partial stabilization, or single-axis (spin) stabilization is required, which greatly simplifies the station-keeping, orbit control problem. Further, the active Van Atta array (AVA) offers inherent high reliability, since many of the distributed amplifiers may fail without causing serious system performance degradation, and also because the distributed amplifier arrangements permit the use of low-power, solid state devices. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0259164

Entities

People

  • R.c. Hansen

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplifiers
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Automatic
  • Degradation
  • Distributed Amplifiers
  • High Reliability
  • Reliability

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers