Antenna array technology of the Deep Space Network

Author: (USA) RogGSTa / (USA) Milante / (USA) Peng / Li Haitao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: In this book, we describe the development of this technology, including some historical background, an analysis of several arraying methods, a comparison of these methods and their combinations, a discussion of several related processing techniques for obtaining synthetic weighting values, the results of several arraying experiments, and some suggestions for future research. This content is excerpted from the works of many colleagues at JPL who participated in the development of arraying technology and capabilities. We express our deep gratitude to the numerous scientists, engineers, testers, and operators who played important roles in the DSN antenna arraying. Finally, we thank NASA and the Deep Space Network, especially the Galileo project, for their significant contributions to the development of this exciting capability. This book primarily introduces the concepts, principles, characteristics, and signal processing methods of antenna arraying technology adopted by the U.S. Deep Space Network, as well as the future development direction of this technology. The book is divided into 10 chapters, each followed by a rich list of references to facilitate further learning and research for readers. This book is suitable for designers and researchers in deep space tracking, control, and communication systems and related fields. [Preface] This book introduces the development and application of antenna arraying technology in the Deep Space Network (DSN), providing an introductory guide for those who wish to understand this technology that has been successfully researched and implemented. The book does not provide a comprehensive discussion of the topic of arraying but only includes the relevant parts that the DSN has used. Although baseband arraying, symbol synthesis, and carrier arraying technologies were studied and developed in the DSN's history quite early, arraying technology only demonstrated its importance when the main antenna on the Galileo probe, which was entering Jupiter's orbit, malfunctioned. To address this crisis, two methods—full-spectrum arraying and complex symbol synthesis—were analyzed. Although both methods were further developed, finally, full-spectrum arraying was adopted to support Galileo data playback. This effort was highly successful, and subsequent full-spectrum arraying provided higher data rates than the Galileo mission, allowing the simultaneous use of up to 6 antennas within the Goldstone Complex for arraying. In addition to providing backup for the 70m antenna, the Full-Spectrum Processing Array (FSPA) can enable future deep space missions to use different numbers of antennas at different times, thus optimizing resource utilization. This capability has also been implemented in other integrated facilities of the DSN. In this book, we describe the development of this technology, including some historical background, an analysis of several arraying methods, a comparison of these methods and their combinations, a discussion of several related processing techniques for obtaining synthetic weighting values, the results of several arraying experiments, and some suggestions for future research. This content is excerpted from the works of many colleagues at JPL who participated in the development of arraying technology and capabilities. We express our deep gratitude to the numerous scientists, engineers, testers, and operators who played important roles in the DSN antenna arraying. Finally, we thank NASA and the Deep Space Network, especially the Galileo project, for their significant contributions to the development of this exciting capability.