Preliminary Results of the Peak Experiment. ALTAIR Deep-Space Measurements
Abstract
During the DNA PEAK (Propagation Effects Assessment-Kwajalein) experiment in August 1988, the primary use of ALTAIR consisted of the collection of VHF and UHF track data and pulse returns from low-orbiting spherical satellites and other satellites of opportunity. However during the course of the experiment the opportunity occurred to collect a small amount of data while ALTAIR was in its operational deep-space track mode. This brief report summarizes the deep-space track data collected by ALTAIR on the evenings of August 18 and 19. On both evenings the FLTSATCOM 4 satellite was tracked by ALTAIR for a brief period. Simultaneous measurements of the one-way signal from the FLTSATCOM UHF satellite beacon at 244 MHz were also obtained at a receiver site located on Roi-Namur. A comparison of the ALTAIR data collected from the two-way radar propagation path to the FLTSATCOM satellite versus the one-way satellite link data indicates that, during this brief period, ALTAIR experienced about 5 dB of loss in detection sensitivity. If ALTAIR were faced with time- critical deep-space track requirements, mitigation techniques would likely be required to combat the effects of severe equatorial scintillation. Keywords: ALTAIR; PEAK experiment; Radio wave propagation; FLTSATCOM; Scintillation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA218622
Entities
People
- Dennis L. Knepp