Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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NRAO-GB Support for VSOP-2NRAO-GB Support for VSOP-2

Glen LangstonNational Radio Astronomy

ObservatoryGreen Bank, WV USA

NRAO Goals Support Space VLBI

Science Develop Systems

for integration into future Ground Science systems

Glen LangstonNational Radio Astronomy

ObservatoryGreen Bank, WV USA

NRAO Goals Support Space VLBI

Science Develop Systems

for integration into future Ground Science systems

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Bi-Static RadarBi-Static Radar

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Technology Development: “Chalmers” Feed

Technology Development: “Chalmers” Feed

0°

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0°

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0°

Low Band (150 to 1700 MHz) Feed1 meter x 1 meter square.

Dewar

Low Bandvertical

Low BandHorizon

SignalInject

Feed Advantages:Wide Bandwidth 150 to 1700 MHz

Focus position independent of Wavelength60 degree FWHM illumination pattern

Professor Per-Simon Kildal

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Data Acquisition SystemData Acquisition SystemVMETRO5210-JFF

VMETRO5210-JFF

5210-JFF5210-JFF

ConduantTK-200

ConduantTK-200

TK-200TK-200A/DA/DRXRX

A/DA/DRXRX

A/DA/DRXRX

A/DA/DRXRX

140 MHz IF75 MHz BW70 dB SFDR

186 MS/s12 bits

3.2 TB/chRemovableStoragePolyphase

Channelization52 sb75 MHz135-270 MB/s (w/compression)

NRAOAntenna

MEMIOMEMIO

MEMIOMEMIO

Re-OrderData(non-realtime)

3.6 TB/chFixedStorage(JBOD)

TODTOD

VME

IPATIPAT

SBCSBC

Gigabit EthernetGigabit Ethernet

ControlComputer

ControlComputer

RXComputer

RXComputer

TK-200TK-200

TK-200TK-200

5210-JFF5210-JFF

5210-JFF5210-JFF

MIT/LLMIT/LL

FPDP

VMETROEL-SB2G

FPDP II

FibreChannel

FibreChannel

FirewallFirewall

NRAOLAN

GPS/IRIGGPS/IRIG

DiskController

(400 MB/s/ch max)

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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ISIS six element Passive radar

ISIS six element Passive radar

Installed ISIS six element discone antenna array for passive VHF signal capture at NRAO Green Bank, with the 43 meter antenna and the Lincoln Labs trailer seen in the background. The MIDASMobile #001 node is installed in the left hand side of the trailer. Low loss heliax cable is attached to each VHF discone antenna (right image) and secured to the mounting poles, while nylon cord provides guying support and structural stability.

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Passive (FM radio) RadarPassive (FM radio) Radar

Observation of scattering of 107.3 MHz FM intercepted at MIT Haystack Observatory and detected atNRAO Green Bank using the passive radar mode of the ISIS Hardware at both sites. The detection distance is 800+/-2 km with an expected direct propagation path of 798 +/- 1 km. Such a propagation path is most likely due to a forward scatter event from a meteor.

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Operation at 0.3 to 49 GHz

Dedicated participation High Sensitivity Array VLBI

Operation at 0.3 to 49 GHz

Dedicated participation High Sensitivity Array VLBI

GBTGBT

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Operation at 2 to 9 GHz

Surface RMS .8mmPrime focus opticsVLBI antennaFast 2deg/second

Operation at 2 to 9 GHz

Surface RMS .8mmPrime focus opticsVLBI antennaFast 2deg/second

20m20m

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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CostsCosts

$$$ Antenna $$ Design Engineer$$ Software$ Individual Modules

(but these add up…)

$$$ Antenna $$ Design Engineer$$ Software$ Individual Modules

(but these add up…)

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Weather/Opacity vs frequency

Weather/Opacity vs frequency

Opacity is similar (factor of 2) at 26 and 38 GHz

GB has daily weather model

Bad weather today….

Opacity is similar (factor of 2) at 26 and 38 GHz

GB has daily weather model

Bad weather today….

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Weather/Opacity vs timeWeather/Opacity vs time

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Antenna Signal PathAntenna Signal Path All Items JAXA/ISAS Feed NRAO/Caltech Receiver NRAO/Caltech/All Satellite Sim. JAXA/Custom Transmitter Commercial Timing Tone Custom/Commercial Phase Measurement Custom/Commercial Demodulator Commercial Decoder Commercial/Software Recorder Mk V/Commercial Data Extraction NRAO/Custom Monitor Custom Schedule Custom

All Items JAXA/ISAS Feed NRAO/Caltech Receiver NRAO/Caltech/All Satellite Sim. JAXA/Custom Transmitter Commercial Timing Tone Custom/Commercial Phase Measurement Custom/Commercial Demodulator Commercial Decoder Commercial/Software Recorder Mk V/Commercial Data Extraction NRAO/Custom Monitor Custom Schedule Custom

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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NRAO Contributions/InterestsNRAO Contributions/Interests

$$$ Antenna $$ Software $ Low Noise Front Ends $ Uplink/Downlink phase control/detection $ Software Back Ends (real-time

spectra/calibration of VSOP-2 data) Test correllation Transient Searches Continuum imaging Galactic molecules

$$$ Antenna $$ Software $ Low Noise Front Ends $ Uplink/Downlink phase control/detection $ Software Back Ends (real-time

spectra/calibration of VSOP-2 data) Test correllation Transient Searches Continuum imaging Galactic molecules

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Molecule/Transient SurveyMolecule/Transient Survey Technology has

advanced. Digital Spectra

Pulsars and Transients in 1 backend

Transients at 43GHz High Stability

Molecule Survey All Sky

coverage

Technology has advanced.

Digital Spectra Pulsars and Transients in 1 backend

Transients at 43GHz High Stability

Molecule Survey All Sky

coverage

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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ConclusionsConclusions

The NRAO in GB Supports the Science Goals of the VSOP-2 Mission.

GB will support GBT Science Observations of successful proposals.

The NRAO in GB is willing to support VSOP-2 Ground Tracking.NRAO’s top ground tracking priority

Develop technology and software for spacecraft tracking that has applications for GB science operations.

The NRAO in GB Supports the Science Goals of the VSOP-2 Mission.

GB will support GBT Science Observations of successful proposals.

The NRAO in GB is willing to support VSOP-2 Ground Tracking.NRAO’s top ground tracking priority

Develop technology and software for spacecraft tracking that has applications for GB science operations.

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Ionospheric Incoherent Scatter

Ionospheric Incoherent Scatter

First light detection of bistatic incoherent scatter from the F region ionosphere on a Millstone Hill toNRAO Green Bank forward path on 25 January 2006, at the common volume intersection point in geodeticcoordinates: (40 deg lat, 283 deg lon, 300 km altitude). The upper data was collected using the reference MillstoneHill software radar platform in a monostatic configuration, while the lower data was collected on the MIDASMobile#001 platform at NRAO Green Bank. An uncoded 480 usec pulse was transmitted from Millstone Hill,resulting in a predicted and subsequently observed bistatic signal to noise ratio of 21 dB. Although the bistaticreturn appears to be approximately 80 km long in range, the actual ionospheric altitude resolution (set by commonintersection volume size) is 10 km.

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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16U SKB Shock rack Enclosure

Zyfer L1 GPS Frequency reference and oscillators : NTP, PPS, Modular and Expandable

2 Echotek Digital Receiver cards (3 analog channels each, 14 bit ADC, digital down

converters)

4 Dual CPU computers per node (2 RX hosts, 2 processing), 500 GB per computer (2 TB

total)

Gigabit Network Switch for data interconnect, uplink, and expansion

1500W UPS system, N-connector Cables, linear power supply

All elements monitored and controlled via Ethernet

ISIS Hardware: MIDAS-Mobile

ISIS Hardware: MIDAS-Mobile

Glen Langston: VSOP-2 at JPL 06

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Recent Test Data ObtainedRecent Test Data Obtained