DSN Radio Astronomy
Frequency Management

Last revised by Tom Kuiper on 2002 Jul 10
| Frequency Coverage | Inteference Thresholds | Contacts |

Radio Astronomy, Earth Exploration- Satellite (passive) and Space Research (passive) radio services have a only small fraction of the radio spectrum allocated to them. Most of that fraction of spectrum is shared with other radio services which emit power levels many orders of magnitude higher than the sensitivity of the receivers of the passive services, especially radio astronomy.

Natural emissions occur throughout the radio spectrum. Investigating the abundance and distribution of molecules in dark interstellar clouds requires observations at many frequencies throughout the spectrum. With only a limited amount of regulatory protection, astronomy research is dependent on the awareness and ecologically sound practices of other spectrum users. Like clean water and clean air, a conscientously used spectrum is a source of new knowledge for Mankind and a legacy for the future.

A personal view of the world frequency regulatory process at work by Tom Kuiper shows how challenging it is to keep radio astronomy a viable activity.

Frequency Coverage

In order to investigate a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, the Deep Space Network is equipped with receivers for radio astronomy research which cover a substantial fraction of the microwave spectrum:

Frequency Band Canberra DSCC Goldstone DSCC Madrid DSCC
Stations: 34 43 13 14 54 63
1610-1723 MHz   oper   oper   oper
near 6 GHz under constr.          
7.8-8.7 GHz       oper    
13-18.3 GHz     oper      
18-26 GHz   oper oper oper   oper
31-34 GHz     oper exper    
40-50 GHz     oper      
70-115 GHz desired   oper   desired  
desiredThis capability is desired by the Space VLBI community to support future missions such as ARISE.
experexperimental: equipment is installed and removed as needed for tests, with a future capability in mind
operoperational
The Frequency Allocation Table for Radio Astronomy and Passive Radio Services, or the full Allocation Tables may be of interest to observers trying to identify sources of interference.

Interference Thresholds

The International Telecommunication Union Handbook on Radio Astronomy provides information on the levels of radiation which are harmful to radio astronomy observations. The following figure, taken from that publication, plots the maximum tolerable spectral power flux density, in dB(W/m2/Hz), as a function of frequency, in GHz.

Contact Persons

DSN Spectrum Manager
Farzin Manshadi
+1-818 354 0068, FAX +1-818 393 1692
Farzin.Manshadi@jpl.nasa.gov
DSN Lead Radio Astronomer
Tom Kuiper
+1-818 354 5623, FAX +1-818 354 8895
Kuiper@jpl.nasa.gov
Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Spectrum Manager
Richard Jacobson
+61-6 202 7909, FAX +61-6 201 7808
Richard.C.Jacobsen@jpl.nasa.gov
Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex Spectrum Manager
Luis Vadillo
+34-91 548 9060, FAX +34-91 548 9061
Luis.Vadillo@jpl.nasa.gov