Performance of a Microwave Antenna System in the Shoulder Region of a Blunt Reentry Nose Cone
Abstract
The purpose of the third AFCRL Trailblazer II reentry vehicle flight was to study the effects of shock ionized air on the performance of a microwave antenna system located in the expansion region of the nose cone. The system consisted of a pair of cavity-backed circumferential slot antennas mounted one behind the other on the conical afterbody of the reentry vehicle. During reentry, measurements of antenna impedance mismatch, interantenna coupling, signal attenuation and antenna pattern distortion were made. The data have been compared with computed values and found to be in good agreement. This experiment thus establishes the validity of the various miceowave and flow field models and calculations used to obtain the theoretical values in the shoulder region of the reentry body. These results will now serve as a standard against which to compare the properties of various chemical alleviants which are being studied in other flights.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 24, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0777828
Entities
People
- David H. Tropea
- J. L. Poirier
- John D. Antonucci
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories