Engineering performance analysis of the TOPEX radar altimeter

Author

Hayne, G.S. ; Hancock, D.W. ; Purdy, C.L.

Author_Institution

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Island, VA, USA

Volume

1

fYear

1994

fDate

8-12 Aug 1994

Firstpage

337

Abstract

Describes the Wallops Flight Facility continuing work in engineering performance analysis for the NASA radar altimeter of the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission (referred to simply as the TOPEX altimeter). Because an altimeter measuring range at two frequencies allows the ionosphere-caused error to be corrected, the TOPEX altimeter comprises a primary radar altimeter at Ku-band (13.6 GHz) and a secondary radar altimeter at C-band (5.3 GHz). For the TOPEX Ku and C altimeters the authors report performance and calibration results for range and for the radar surface backscattering cross-section σ⁰. Except for the antenna the TOPEX altimeter has two redundant systems, sides A and B. Only side A has been operated since launch, and this paper discusses only side A

Keywords

calibration; oceanographic equipment; oceanographic techniques; radar applications; remote sensing; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; 13.6 GHz; 5.3 GHz; C-band; Ku-band; POSEIDON; SHF microwave; TOPEX altimeter; TOPEX radar altimeter; Wallops Flight Facility; calibration; dynamic height; engineering performance analysis; measurement technique; ocean sea surface; performance; radar remote sensing; sea level height; secondary radar altimeter; surface backscattering cross-section; Aerospace engineering; Backscatter; Calibration; Error correction; Frequency measurement; NASA; Performance analysis; Radar antennas; Radar cross section; Radar measurements;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 1994. IGARSS '94. Surface and Atmospheric Remote Sensing: Technologies, Data Analysis and Interpretation., International

Conference_Location

Pasadena, CA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1497-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IGARSS.1994.399120

Filename

399120