Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network William A. Imbriale MONOGRAPH 4 DEEP–SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network DEEP-SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES Issued by the Deep-Space Communications and Navigation Systems Center of Excellence Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Joseph H. Yuen, Editor-in-Chief Previously Published Monographs in this Series 1. Radiometric Tracking Techniques for Deep-Space Navigation C.L. Thornton and J.S. Border 2. Formulation for Observed and Computed Values of Deep Space Network Data Types for Navigation Theodore D. Moyer 3. Bandwidth-Efficient Digital Modulation with Application to Deep-Space Communications Marvin K. Simon Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network William A. Imbriale Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology MONOGRAPH 4 DEEP–SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network (JPL Publication 02-6) February 2002 The research described in this publication was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement by the United States Government or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Table of Contents Foreword ..........................................................................................................xi Preface ...........................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................xv Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................1 1.1 Technology Drivers ...................................................................3 1.1.1 Frequency Bands Allocated to the Deep Space Network ..................................................6 1.2 Analysis Techniques for Designing Reflector Antennas ......6 1.2.1 Radiation-Pattern Analysis .........................................7 1.2.2 Feed-Horn Analysis ..................................................14 1.2.3 Spherical-Wave Analysis ..........................................18 1.2.4 Dual-Reflector Shaping ............................................20 1.2.5 Quasioptical Techniques ...........................................23 1.2.6 Dichroic Analysis .....................................................29 1.2.7 Antenna Noise-Temperature Determination .............33 1.3 Measurement Techniques ......................................................40 1.3.1 Theodolite Measurements .........................................40 1.3.2 Microwave Holography ............................................45 1.3.3 Aperture Gain and Efficiency Measurements ...........51 1.3.4 Noise-Temperature Measurements ...........................53 1.4 Techniques for Designing Beam-Waveguide Systems .......55 1.4.1 Highpass Design .......................................................56 1.4.2 Focal-Plane Matching ...............................................58 1.4.3 Gaussian-Beam Design .............................................59 1.4.4 High-Power Design ..................................................61 1.5 Summary ..................................................................................63 References ........................................................................................63 v vi Chapter 2: Deep Space Station 11: Pioneer—The First Large Deep Space Network Cassegrain Antenna ....................................71 2.1 Introduction to the Cassegrain Concept ...............................71 2.2 Factors Influencing Cassegrain Geometry ...........................72 2.3 The DSS-11, 26-Meter Cassegrain System ...........................74 References ........................................................................................77 Chapter 3: Deep Space Station 12: Echo ...................................................79 3.1 The S-Band Cassegrain Monopulse Feed Horn ...................81 3.2 The 26-Meter S-/X-Band Conversion Project ........................82 3.2.1 Performance Predictions ...........................................84 3.2.2 Performance Measurements ......................................86 3.3 The Goldstone–Apple Valley Radio Telescope ....................86 References ........................................................................................87 Chapter 4: Deep Space Station 13: Venus .................................................89 4.1 The Dual-Mode Conical Feed Horn ........................................93 4.2 Gain Calibration .......................................................................93 References ........................................................................................96 Chapter 5: Deep Space Station 14: Mars ...................................................97 5.1 Antenna Structure ...................................................................98 5.2 S-Band, 1966 ..........................................................................101 5.3 Performance at X-Band .........................................................103 5.3.1 Surface Tolerance ....................................................104 5.3.2 Measured X-Band Performance ..............................105 5.4 Tricone Multiple Cassegrain Feed System .........................106 5.4.1 Radio Frequency Performance ................................107 5.4.2 New Wideband Feed Horns ....................................109 5.4.3 Dual-Hybrid-Mode Feed Horn ................................109 5.5 Reflex–Dichroic Feed System ..............................................114 5.6 L-Band ....................................................................................120 5.6.1 Design Approach .....................................................121 5.6.2 Performance Predictions and Measurements ..........123 5.6.3 L-Band System Modifications ................................124 5.7 The Upgrade from 64 Meters to 70 Meters ..........................125 5.7.1 Design and Performance Predictions ......................126 Table of Contents vii 5.7.2 S- and X-Band Performance ...................................129 5.7.3 Ka-Band Performance ............................................132 5.7.4 Adding X-Band Uplink ..........................................132 5.8 Distortion Compensation .....................................................140 5.8.1 Deformable Flat Plate .............................................140 5.8.2 Array-Feed Compensation System .........................141 5.8.3 The Array-Feed Compensation System–Deformable Flat-Plate Experiment .............................................142 5.8.4 Projected Ka-Band Performance ............................149 5.9 Future Interests and Challenges .........................................150 References ......................................................................................151 Chapter 6: Deep Space Station 15: Uranus—The First 34-Meter High-Efficiency Antenna ...............................................................157 6.1 The Common-Aperture Feed ...............................................158 6.2 Dual-Reflector Shaping ........................................................159 6.3 Computed versus Measured Performance .........................163 References ......................................................................................164 Chapter 7: The 34-Meter Research and Development Beam-Waveguide Antenna ............................................................167 7.1 New Analytical Techniques ..................................................168 7.2 Beam-Waveguide Test Facility .............................................168 7.3 The New Antenna ..................................................................170 7.3.1 Antenna Design Considerations .............................171 7.3.2 Upper-Mirror Optics Design ...................................173 7.3.3 Pedestal Room Optics Design ................................180 7.3.4 Bypass Beam-Waveguide Design ...........................181 7.3.5 Theoretical Performance .........................................182 7.3.6 Dual-Shaped Reflector Design ...............................187 7.3.7 The Effect of Using the DSS-15 Main Reflector Panel Molds for Fabricating DSS-13 Panels ..........187 7.4 Phase I Measured Results ....................................................190 7.4.1 The X- and Ka-Band Test Packages .......................190 7.4.2 Noise Temperature ..................................................192 7.4.3 Efficiency Calibration at 8.45 and 32 GHz ............196 viii 7.4.4 Optimizing the G/T Ratio of the Beam- Waveguide Antenna ................................................196 7.4.5 Beam-Waveguide Antenna Performance in the BypassMode ...........................................................200 7.5 Removal of the Bypass Beam Waveguide ..........................204 7.6 Multifrequency Operation .....................................................210 7.6.1 X-/Ka-Band System ................................................210 7.6.2 S-Band Design ........................................................213 7.7 Beam-Waveguide Versatility .................................................218 References ......................................................................................219 Chapter 8: The 34-Meter Beam-Waveguide Operational Antennas ......225 8.1 Beam-Waveguide Design ......................................................225 8.2 Initial Testing ..........................................................................227 8.2.1 Microwave Holography Measurements ..................229 8.2.2 Efficiency Measurements ........................................230 8.2.3 Noise-Temperature Results .....................................235 8.2.4 The Shroud ..............................................................236 8.3 Adding Ka-Band to the Operational 34-Meter Beam-Waveguide Antennas .................................................239 8.3.1 The Cassini Radio Science Ka-Band Ground System ........................................................239 8.3.2 Ka-Band Upgrades—Receive-Only System ...........248 References ......................................................................................253 Chapter 9: The Antenna Research System Task ....................................257 9.1 Design of the Beam-Waveguide System .............................259 9.2 Design of the Transmit Feed Horn .......................................262 9.3 Receive-System Design ........................................................268 9.4 Dual-Vane Polarizers .............................................................273 9.5 Uplink Arraying ......................................................................275 9.6 Deep Space Station 27 ..........................................................276 References ......................................................................................280