Why the DSN Does Radio Astronomy
- Among the largest antennas in the world.
- High angular resolution covering a key 30-60 arcsec domain.
- Key locations for VLBI mapping and observing the southern sky.
- Unique spectrometers, ideal for spectrum surveys.
These capabilities have made possible breakthroughs in radio astronomy.
A substantial amount of antenna time is available for programs which can be scheduled into the holes of the deep space telecom schedule.
- Techniques that enhance DSN operation.
- Ensures that non-standard DSN systems are working when needed.
- Field testing of advanced equipment under operational conditions.
- Extends the capabilities of the DSN leading to improved support of flight projects.
- Creates and maintains relationships with radio observatories for key mission supports.
- Provides a set of people skilled in key technologies that are important to the DSN's main missions.
Radio astronomy innovations in the DSN are faster, better, and cheaper.
Our Mission
Capitalize on the unique capabilities of NASA's Deep Space Network to conduct innovative research in radio astronomy
Our Goals
- Advance scientific knowledge in the areas of NASA's four science research themes .
- Enhance the capabilities of the DSN in deep space telecommunications.
- Optimize the DSN's facilities for radio astronomy research.
Our (Desired) Approach
- Maintain a stable, reliable environment for routine astronomical observations (such as VLBI).
- Provide an adaptable, hands-on environment comprising the best equipment to astronomers developing new instruments and techniques.
- Support both routine and experimental observations with a high degree of easily configured automation.
Overview
Deep space telecommunications and radio astronomy have had a long and fruitful partnership, going back to the days when the first deep space antennas were being constructed. The first and many subsequent DSN antennas were based on radio telescope designs. (More information on this is available in the Picture Album History of the Deep Space Network .) The partnership is a natural one because both depend on the reception of extremely weak signals from very distant objects. Both fields benefit from large antennas, more sensitive receivers, and higher operating frequencies. Radio astronomers therefore are eager to take advantage of the DSN's unique capabilities, while the DSN has benefitted from incorporating radio astronomy technologies and techniques.
Over the years, the DSN has evolved policies and procedures for the use of the DSN by radio astronomers. Paramount is the requirement the research should require some unique capability of the DSN, that is, some feature not available at radio observatories. For example, the DSN 70-m antenna is the largest and most sensitive centimeter wavelength radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, so astronomers involved in certain kinds of cutting edge research can only do that with this antenna.
DSN policy also specifies that the facilities are made available without specialized support. It used to be required that a member of the investigator team be present at the antenna when observations were being conducted. The DSN is now developing procedures by which certain kinds of observations can be done by Operations personnel. VLBI is at the forefront of this development, because the DSN does a lot of VLBI for calibration and navigation, as well as support of the Space VLBI mission. Thus, it has become practical to offer VLBI observations as a service. Most other kinds of astronomy, however, still depend critically on the investigators' personal involvement.
It is this close involvement which brings new capabilities to the DSN, initially to attain some research objective, but which may later enhance telecommunication capability. One current thrust is the installation of a receiver operating between 70 and 100 GHz on one of the Goldstone 34-m beam-waveguide antennas. This will make that antenna the largest of its kind in the US, a superb instrument for star formation studies and millimeter wavelength VLBI. It will also force astronomers to solve the long standing problem of the rather poor pointing performance, just as they solved the problem of 70-m pointing fifteen years ago.
The performance of the antenna can be greatly improved by a deformable flat plate reflector in the signal path to compensate for antenna deformation. The ongoing DFP engineering task will benefit from having eager customers who feed back performance data.
Another exciting capability about to be realized is the measurement of the magnetic field strenth down to 30 microgauss in star forming regions. The role of the magnetic field in impeding or modifying the collapse of an interstellar cloud to become a protostar cannot be known without such data. Receiver technology being developed for the DSN has been used to build an exquisitely sensitive receiver for use at 34 GHz. The magnetic field measurements will, as a byproduct, provide detailed information on the performance of this type of receiver.
Besides advances in hardware, DSN radio astronomers are also involved in improvements in monitor and control and data acquisition . The goal is to be able to conduct experiments entirely automatically, in which computers configure the equipment and acquire the data from predefined instructions with minimal operator involvement. The challenges include being able to operate standard DSN equipment (such as the antennas) and non-standard R&D equipment together in a seamless manner, being able to switch software versions quickly and reliably to meet a variety of needs, and for the software to be able to adapt quickly to changes in the hardware.
Among the greatest challenges is that of managing an ever more ambitious program on a limited budget. For example, DSN radio astronomy inherited two unique spectrometers from the terminated NASA SETI Project, the 2 million 40 MHz Wide Band Spectrum Analyzer and the 80 million channel 80 MHz Channelized Spectrum Processor. These are fabulous instruments without peer for conducting spectrum surveys. Unfortunately, if one applies a standard industry rule-of-thumb for maintenance cost for these very expensive machines, one has to conclude that the DSN Radio Astronomy program can't afford to keep them. |
