The MESSENGER mission to orbit the planet Mercury poses significant design challenges for its deep space communication system. These challenges include a wide pointing range, tight packaging, and a high temperature environment. To meet these challenges, the spacecraft incorporates the first steerable phased array antenna flown for deep space communications. The invention of a method for achieving circular polarization in a high-temperature (+300/spl deg/C) environment has doubled the science return of the mission relative to its initially proposed implementation. Cross-strapping between the phased array antennas and solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs) enables both amplifiers to be turned on when sufficient power is available, enhancing the scientific return at the planet. A science return of 25 Gbits/year is achieved using only one SSPA in Mercury orbit. The science return increases to 100 Gbits/year if both SSPAs are used in the orbital phase.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    MESSENGER mission: first electronically steered antenna for deep space communications


    Contributors:
    Bokulic, R.S. (author) / Fielhauer, K.B. (author) / Wallis, R.E. (author) / Cheng, S. (author) / Edwards, M.L. (author) / Stilwell, R.K. (author) / Perm, J.E. (author) / Bruzzi, J.R. (author) / Malouf, P.M. (author)


    Publication date :

    2004-01-01


    Size :

    927000 byte





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Electronically Steered L-Band Antenna for Mobile Applications

    Boettcher, M. / Gieron, R. / Eube, M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005





    ATLAS LINKS Electronically Steered Aperture Array System

    Altunc, Serhat / Kegege, Obadiah | NTRS | 2018