C-band FET power amplifier for TWTA replacement

The technology of gallium arsenide field-effect transistors has advanced to the point where these devices can serve to replace traveling wave tubes in spaceborne communication transponders.This paper describes interim results of a C-band FET amplifier which is currently being developed by RCA for INTELSAT. The FETA is designed to provide a 6-W output with an efficiency greater than 25%, and a backed-off 1.5-W output level with low distortion and efficiency of 13%.The third order intermodulation ($\text{C}\text{I}$) of a FETA at saturation is typically 15 dB as compared to 10 dB for a TWTA. At 10 dB input power back-off the $\text{C}\text{I}$ improves to 24 dB while that of a TWTA is only 16 dB.We fabricated a breadboard 5-W FETA which demonstrates that a linear operation can be achieved at an output level of 1.5 W with 10% efficiency. By contrast the efficiency of a typical 5 W TWTA in the same linear region is no greater than 3–5%.     

Developing the next phase in NASAs satellite communications program

NASAs early efforts in satellite communications development brought confidence in space technology use for improved telecommunications. New, worldwide satellite communications systems have resulted, and are now on a commercial, self-sustaining operational basis. Since 1973, NASA has conducted hundreds of user experiments and demonstrated newer technology using ATS-1, -3, -6 and CTS. Now, projections show that the commercial demand will continue to increase, soon exceeding the current technology's capacity.As a result, U.S. Space Policy affirmed in 1978 that NASA should embark again on a research and development program for satellite communications with specific, characterized goals. The resulting plan's elements include $\text{30}\text{20}\text{GHz}$ Ka-band technology, extending the current work in advanced multi-beam antennas; a narrowband system and technology study that could lead to mobile and transportable communications developments; and studies of future uses of technology in communications. The program plan and its evolution are described, followed by a report of current progress and future expectations.     

Orbit prediction for IRAS using vector and analytic techniques

This paper describes the techniques of a vector approach to the solution of the differential equations of motion of a near-Earth satellite. The method provides a good stable foundation for developing the orbital elements, thus allowing an analytic approach to be used in subsidiary algorithms. The mathematical concepts used in these algorithms are explained, and equations are developed for calculating Earth and Moon eclipses, radiation zone crossings, atmospheric density effects, solar cell decay, look angles and a geographical ephemeris. Results are presented for the IRAS satellite, and show that prediction errors of less than $\text{1}\text{1}\text{2}$ sec over one week or errors of less than 15 sec over $\text{3}\text{1}\text{2}$ months are possible.     

The applications of lower power satellites for direct television broadcasting

The use of 12 GHz satellites for TV broadcasting directly to individual homes and small communities has been the subject of analysis and design study by groups in many countries. Implementation of the concept has been slow to follow because of the high satellite transmitter powers of from 100 to 450 W that have usually been determined to be necessary. Accumulated experience in Canada with 12 GHz operation and the evolution of technology are leading to changes in the concept of direct broadcasting such that lower power satellites may be capable of meeting the requirements.

Hermes, the Canadian/U.S. 12/14 GHz Communications Technology Satellite, has been in use for over 3 years in a program of experiments and measurements. This program has included an extensive six month experiment in direct broadcasting to 7 small communities. Experience with Hermes has shown that the signal strength is stable over long periods of time and that in Canada, significant precipitation attenuation at 12 GHz is of relatively short duration and typically occurs only during certain seasons. Operation with low propagation margins is feasible if some picture degradation and some outages at these times are acceptable. The frequency and duration of occurrence of outages can be controlled by the Earth station G/T which is cost sensitive. An individual may choose to use a low cost system with a small antenna and accept a degraded picture and outages at some times. A small community may choose to pay more for a larger antenna and lower noise receiver to achieve better performance.

Developments in technology are reducing the noise figure of mass-producible receivers from more than 6 dB to as low as 4 dB. Another technology contribution is the use of reduced bandwidth and other signal processing techniques in low-cost receivers. While use of such techniques may introduce distortions that would be unacceptable in rebroadcasting systems, there is little impact for individual and community reception. Use of both technologies reduce the required satellite EIRP or ground terminal G/T.

A field trial was begun in April 1979 to test these concepts for use in television program delivery. One hundred Earth stations capable of being tuned across a 500 MHz band and having antennas with diameters of either 1.2 m or 1.8 m are being installed for a test in Canada to receive TV signals from the 20 W transponders of ANIK-B (peak EIRP of 51 dBw) on an experimental basis. The acceptability of the video signals and the technical performance of the low-cost terminals in the bands of non-technical users are being evaluated.

The paper will summarize the concept of TV broadcasting with lower power satellites and describe the results to date of the ANIK-B field trials.     

Ku波段低噪声放大器的设计

设计一款Ku波段低噪声放大器,放大器采用两级PHEMT晶体管(VMMK1225)级联结构,单电源供电模式。应用微波仿真软件ADS对匹配电路进行优化设计,在11.7GHz～12.5GHz的工作频段内放大器噪声系数小于0.23 dB,带内增益大于31dB,输入、输出驻波比小于1.6。仿真结果表明,设计完全满足性能指标要求。     

Advanced high capacity domestic satellite communications system

This paper describes a concept of multibeam high capacity transmission possible with a 30/20 GHz and 50/40 GHz domestic satellite communication system. The relationship between satellite antenna pointing accuracy and multi-beam antenna interference, as well as the relationship between satellite antenna pointing accuracy and multi-satellite interference are looked at.The ultra high capacity domestic satellite communication system will have multi-beam antennas with a 76.0 dB at both 20 GHz and 40 GHz. These antennas will provide 4950 beams that approximately correspond to the number of end office of the Japanese telephone network, and have a pointing accuracy of 0.005 degrees. This system will be equipped with 9900 30/20 GHz and 50/40 GHz transponder channels with bit rates of 800 Mbps. Its capacity will be 119 Tbps through use of 15 large communication satellite platforms.     

Recovery of long-wavelength mean gravity anomalies for the dedicated gravitational satellite (gravsat) mission

This paper describes a computer simulation study that was undertaken to determine how well long-wavelength variations in the Earth's gravitational field can be recovered using data from the Dedicated$\text{Grav}$itational $\text{Sat}$ellite (GRAVSAT) mission. This mission is to consist of two low altitude (160 km) spacecraft in essentially the same orbit but separated in phase by 100–300 km. Geodetic data are measurements of the relative range rate to an accuracy of about 1 μm/s at 4 sec intervals. Specifically, a Bayesian covariance simulation was used to investigate simultaneous recovery of the spacecraft ephemerides and a global distribution of 20° × 20° mean gravity anomaly blocks. Sources of errors considered were tracking station positions, gravitational constant, Earth body tides, tropospheric modeling and measurement noise. It should be noted that this simulation does not include as an error source variations in the gravity field that have a character different from what was modeled. Consequently, this study demonstrates the potential of the low-low system as configured to recover the long-wavelength variations in the gravity field.Using only one days worth of data, the mean of the standard deviations of the 162 20° × 20° gravity anomaly blocks is about 1 μgal. For a 6 month mission (assuming a reduction proportional to the square root of the data intervals) this projects to < 0.1 μgal. Because of the potential of increased measurement precision at shorter separation distances, and the relative insensitivity of the recovery process to separation distance, it should be possible to recover both long and short wavelength variations with a modest distribution of separation distances tailored primarily to the short wavelength recovery. Effects of the uncertainty in the gravitational constant and Love's numbers are negligible. In a simulation not reported on, increasing the altitude of the orbit to 200 km from 150 km, degraded, as expected, the accuracy of the recovered parameters by only 7%.     

Ka波段微波通道的仿真设计

简述Ka波段微波通道的设计要点,以Agilent ADS软件为平台建立仿真模型,选用S参数和谐波平衡仿真工具对接收和发射信道进行设计仿真,得到了满足信道要求的仿真指标,其中接收信道变频增益10dB,噪声系数11.5dB,发射信道输出功率28dBm,变频增益23.7dB,实现了微波通道方案的可行性验证。     

基于交错带状线3 dB电桥的大功率功放技术

在现今的军用电子系统中，功率放大器起着举足轻重的作用。功率合成器件作为功率放大器的重要组成部分，需要满足高合成效率、高功率耐受能力和小型化的特性要求。基于交错耦合带状线定向耦合器，通过宽带匹配级联设计了一款8 GHz~12 GHz的四路功率合路器。测试结果显示：四路功率合路器的隔离度<-15 dB，回波损耗<-19 dB，合成效率>78.7%。基于该四路功率合成模块研制了一款X频段功率放大器，样机尺寸为52 mm×38 mm×5.5 mm，放大器在8 GHz~12 GHz的最大输出功率为52.2 dBm（40%占空比），插入损耗<1.4 dB。与传统的平面结构相比，基于这种功率合成器的结构更紧凑，合成效率更高，隔离度更好，功率耐受能力更强，适用于卫星通信、雷达和电子对抗等领域。     

一种基于共面线的毫米波宽带预失真线性化技术

针对毫米波卫星通信前端发射系统中固态功率放大器的非线性失真问题,提出了一种新型毫米波模拟预失真线性化技术。该技术采用毫米波共面线集成非线性器件,与传统的基于微带线集成非线性二极管器件的方法相比,避免了接地电感等不连续性干扰,提高了工作频率,拓展了工作带宽,在毫米波频段实现了宽带预失真非线性补偿。试验结果表明:在Ka波段13GHz(25~38GHz)频率范围内,由该技术实现的预失真线性化电路在输入功率15dB变化范围内,实现了3dB左右的增益幅度扩张和20°左右的相位压缩。将该预失真线性化技术应用于改善一型工作频率为29.6~30GHz,输出功率为5 W的毫米波功率放大器的线性性能。双音信号测试结果表明:功放在1dB压缩点回退7dB的条件下,三阶交调失真改善度高于10dB,并在29.8GHz时达到19dB。该技术可用于满足现代大容量、高速无线通信,特别是毫米波卫星通信前端系统的需求,实现高质量、低误码率的数据无线传输链接。     

Theoretical study about the Marangoni convection in a liquid column in zero-gravity

The thermal Marangoni effect on the surface of a liquid bridge induces a convection inside the liquid. For an imposed arbitrary periodic axial circumferential temperature distribution on the liquid surface the velocity distributions in radial-, angular- and axial direction are determined theoretically by solving the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. Of particular interest is the effect of the viscosity parameter $\text{v}\text{a}{}^2$ and axial wave length to diameter ratio $\text{l}\text{a}$. It was found that the increase of viscosity decreases the magnitude of the velocity distributions and that for small axial wave length to diameter ratios the radial- and axial velocities exhibit peak values close to the free surface of the liquid. This is in a less pronounced way also true for the angular velocity, which shows for increasing moderate values $\text{l}\text{a}\text{(0 ≤}\text{l}\text{a}\text{≤ 2}$) a strong increase in magnitude and for larger axial wavelength a decrease again. For increasing axial wavelength the peak value of the radial- and axial velocity shifts towards the center of the liquid bridge, of which for a further increase a decrease of the magnitude appears.     

On orbit control using gravity gradient effects

Possibility of orbit control using gravity gradient (GG) effects without any mass expulsion is discussed. For simplicity, a dumb-bell type satellite and circular orbits are mainly considered. It is shown that the GG effects can be applied to convert attitude torques into orbital torques and vice versa. In central gravitational force fields, maximum orbital torques or thrusts are available from the GG force when roll or pitch angle is $\text{±}\text{π}\text{4}$ provided that the attitude angle is null when the dumb-bell axis coincides with the local vertical. Such external torques as geomagnetic or solar wind pressure can be utilized to maintain the $\text{±}\text{π}\text{4}$ attitude, then the orbital torques are available forever. In non-central gravitational fields, without any external torque, the orbital radii of circular orbits can be increased by controlling the satellite attitude using electric energy. The use of the Earth's oblateness effects and the exterior Lunar potential is discussed.     

220GHz行波管设计与工艺实验研究

针对目前系统应用对于220GHz频段的大功率辐射源的需求,文章设计了一种折叠波导行波管,在215GHz～225GHz的带宽范围内能够输出10W以上的功率,增益大于25dB。通过模拟计算确定了折叠波导高频电路、注波互作用、电子光学系统以及输能窗等主要部件的设计尺寸,并加工了折叠波导高频电路样品,对制造工艺进行研究。     

Harenodynamic cooling: The use of lunar sand as cooling medium

In the context of investigations to maximize the operational utilization of local resources on other worlds, a concept for using fine lunar sand as cooling medium for the rejection of waste heat is developed. Sand at cryogenic temperature is admixed to the working fluid containing the waste heat. Gas and sand form a mix of the desired and temperature of the working fluid. Subsequently, the sand is removed and intensely radiation-cooled, utilizing its very large $\text{surface}\text{volume}$ ratio. Thereafter it is recycled. It is shown that, compared to heat rejection by radiator, harenodynamic cooling offers superior efficiency, greater compactness and lower cost, improving the economics of nuclear power plants and of industrial expansion on the Moon in general.