A quarter century of research into deep space and near Earth optical communications

This book captures a quarter century of research and development in deep space optical communications from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Additionally, it presents findings from other optical communications research groups from around the world for a full perspective. Readers are brought up to date with the latest developments in optical communications technology, as well as the state of the art in component and subsystem technologies, fundamental limitations, and approaches to develop and...

JPL spacecraft antennas-from the first Explorer satellite in 1958 to current R & D

Spaceborne Antennas for Planetary Exploration covers the development of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spacecraft antennas, beginning with the first Explorer satellite in 1958 through current research and development activities aimed at future missions. Readers follow the evolution of all the new designs and technological innovations that were developed to meet the growing demands of deep space exploration.

The book focuses on the radio frequency design and performance of antennas,...

This book introduces the reader to the concept of an autonomous software-defined radio (SDR) receiver. Each distinct aspect of the design of the receiver is treated in a separate chapter written by one or more leading innovators in the field. Chapters begin with a problem statement and then offer a full mathematical derivation of an appropriate solution, a decision metric or loop-structure as appropriate, and performance results.

An important look at bandwidth-efficient modulations with applications to today's Space program

Based on research and results obtained at the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this timely book defines, describes, and then delineates the performance (power and bandwidth) of digital communication systems that incorporate a wide variety of bandwidth-efficient modulations appropriate for the design and implementation of space communications systems.

The author compares the performance of these systems in the presence of a number of practical...

An important historical look at the space program's evolving telecommunications systems

Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network traces the development of the antennas of NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) from the network's inception in 1958 to the present. It details the evolution of the large parabolic dish antennas, from the initial 26-m operation at L-band (960 MHz) through the current Ka-band (32 GHz) systems. Primarily used for telecommunications, these antennas also support radar and radio astronomy observations in the exploration of the solar system and the universe. In...

This book presents the theory of phased array antennas that use arrays of electronic oscillators coupled to each other so as to mutually injection lock and thus oscillate as an ensemble. This arrangement provides a remarkably simple beam steering control system replacing the complicated array of computer controlled phase shifters traditionally used for this purpose. The book also describes a large number of laboratory demonstrations that have been reported over the past three decades that experimentally verify the various aspects of the theory. The theory is initially presented using a linear...

Based on years of research conducted at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Low-Energy Lunar Trajectory Design provides high-level information to mission managers and detailed information to mission designers about low-energy transfers between Earth and the moon. The book answers high-level questions about the availability and performance of such transfers in any given month and year. Low-energy lunar transfers are compared with various other types of transfers, and placed within the context of historical missions.

Using this book, designers may reconstruct any transfer...