The Waves in Space Plasma (WISP) experiment calls for the HF/WISP dipole to be flown on the space shuttle orbiter, and will study propagation of waves through the ionosphere in the 2 to 30 MHz frequency range. In order to interpret the measurements obtained in the WISP experiments, the field strength radiated by the WISP dipole must be known accurately over the complete radiation sphere, for both the E-theta and the E-phi polarizations. The dipole aboard the shuttle radiates quite differently from the isolated dipole, because the dipole induces RF currents in the metallic skin of the orbiter whichalso radiate. The dipole's radiation patterns and impedance are influenced by the presence of other pallets nearby in the cargo bay, and by the shuttle's remote manipulation arm. Also, because the WISP dipole can extend as far as 50 m on either side of the shuttle craft, and has low stiffness, the inertia of the arm causes them to bend into graceful curves in response to shuttle motion, and the curves dipole radiates differently from its straight counterpart. This project uses wire grid modelling to predict the radiation patterns of the WISP dipole aboard the orbiter, in the presence of other pallets, and with any configuration of the remote manipulator arm and of the dipole arms.
Radiation patterns of the HF/WISP dipole on the space shuttle orbiter
Strahlungsverteilung des HF/WISP-Dipols am Space-Shuttle
Antennas and Propagation. Symposium Digest ; 2 ; 493-496
1985
4 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 3 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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