Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon

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dc.contributor.advisorInggs, Michaelen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCilliers, Pierreen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAgaba, Doreenen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-15T10:02:49Z
dc.date.available2015-09-15T10:02:49Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation reports on the investigation to determine which orbits, ionospheric conditions and seasons of the year that will facilitate the reception of the high frequency (HF) beacon signal from the 1 U CubeSat ZACUBE 1 by the SuperDARN HF radar in Antarctica, and by the HF direction-finding (DF) systems in both Pretoria and Hermanus. The primary objective of the HF beacon on ZACUBE 1 is to provide a continuous radio signal to calibrate and verify the elevation-resolving algorithm of the SuperDARN HF Radar antenna at SANAE IV in Antarctica. The signal will also be used to characterise the beam pattern of this and other HF radar antennas in the SuperDARN network, and to characterise the ionosphere over the Earth’s polar region. A secondary objective of the HF beacon on the satellite is to measure the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) by using either measurements of the carrier phase delays or of the Faraday rotation of the signal. An orbit analysis was done for the CubeSat using parameters for an orbit at an altitude of 600 km and inclination angles of 97.8° and 65°. To account for the propagation effects of the radio wave at 14.099 MHz, the IRI-2007 model and the Chapman layer model were used to define the ionosphere. A ray tracing algorithm written in MATLAB was used to simulate the ray paths. To evaluate the results, a documented ray tracing algorithm known as Haselgrove ray tracing was used. The results obtained show that for an orbit at an inclination above 70° and altitude of 600 km, a number of rays actually traverse the ionosphere and reach the receivers during most of the year for a sufficient period of time during every pass. The least refraction is experienced during winter, therefore it is the best time for the calibration of the radar antenna. The results indicate that the objectives of the CubeSat mission should be achieved.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationAgaba, D. (2012). <i>Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13917en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAgaba, Doreen. <i>"Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13917en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAgaba, D. 2012. Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Agaba, Doreen AB - This dissertation reports on the investigation to determine which orbits, ionospheric conditions and seasons of the year that will facilitate the reception of the high frequency (HF) beacon signal from the 1 U CubeSat ZACUBE 1 by the SuperDARN HF radar in Antarctica, and by the HF direction-finding (DF) systems in both Pretoria and Hermanus. The primary objective of the HF beacon on ZACUBE 1 is to provide a continuous radio signal to calibrate and verify the elevation-resolving algorithm of the SuperDARN HF Radar antenna at SANAE IV in Antarctica. The signal will also be used to characterise the beam pattern of this and other HF radar antennas in the SuperDARN network, and to characterise the ionosphere over the Earth’s polar region. A secondary objective of the HF beacon on the satellite is to measure the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) by using either measurements of the carrier phase delays or of the Faraday rotation of the signal. An orbit analysis was done for the CubeSat using parameters for an orbit at an altitude of 600 km and inclination angles of 97.8° and 65°. To account for the propagation effects of the radio wave at 14.099 MHz, the IRI-2007 model and the Chapman layer model were used to define the ionosphere. A ray tracing algorithm written in MATLAB was used to simulate the ray paths. To evaluate the results, a documented ray tracing algorithm known as Haselgrove ray tracing was used. The results obtained show that for an orbit at an inclination above 70° and altitude of 600 km, a number of rays actually traverse the ionosphere and reach the receivers during most of the year for a sufficient period of time during every pass. The least refraction is experienced during winter, therefore it is the best time for the calibration of the radar antenna. The results indicate that the objectives of the CubeSat mission should be achieved. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon TI - Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13917 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13917
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAgaba D. Calibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beacon. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2012 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13917en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Electrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherElectrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleCalibration of a SuperDARN Radar Antenna by means of a Satellite Beaconen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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