Title :
Pros and cons of using arrays of small antennas versus large single dish antennas for Deep Space Network
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA
Abstract :
This paper briefly describes pros and cons of using arrays of small antennas instead of large single dish antennas for spacecraft telemetry, command, and tracking (TT&C) - communications and navigation (C&N) - and science support that the deep space network (DSN) normally provides. It considers functionality and performance aspects, mainly for TT&C, though it also considers science. It only briefly comments on the cost aspects that seem to favor arrays of small antennas over large single antennas, at least for receiving (downlinks).
Keywords :
aircraft antennas; antenna arrays; communication-navigation systems; deep space network; large single dish antennas; small antenna arrays; spacecraft telemetry-command-tracking; Antenna arrays; Costs; Downlink; Laboratories; Mass production; NASA; Paper technology; Propulsion; Receiving antennas; Space technology;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace conference, 2009 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2621-8
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2622-5
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2009.4839366