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Very long baseline interferometry using a radio telescope in Earth orbitSuccessful Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations at 2.3 GHz were made using an antenna aboard an Earth-orbiting spacecraft as one of the receiving telescopes. These observations employed the first deployed satellite (TDRSE-E for East) of the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Fringes were found for 3 radio sources on baselines between TDRSE and telescopes in Australia and Japan. The purpose of this experiment and the characteristics of the spacecraft that are related to the VLBI observations are described. The technical obstacles to maintaining phase coherence between the orbiting antenna and the ground stations, as well as the calibration schemes for the communication link between TDRSE and its ground station at White Sands, New Mexico are explored. System coherence results and scientific results for the radio source observations are presented. Using all available calibrations, a coherence of 84% over 700 seconds was achieved for baselines to the orbiting telescope.
Document ID
19870008511
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ulvestad, J. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Edwards, C. D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Linfield, R. P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
February 15, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: The Telecommunications and Data Acquisition Report
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Accession Number
87N17944
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 310-10-63-63-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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