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The Radio Astronomy Explorer Satellite, a Low‐Frequency Observatory
Author(s) -
Weber R. R.,
Alexander J. K.,
Stone R. G.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs006i012p01085
Subject(s) - radio astronomy , observatory , physics , satellite , remote sensing , spacecraft , radiometer , antenna (radio) , cubesat , astronomy , radio telescope , telecommunications , computer science , optics , geology
The Radio Astronomy Explorer satellite (RAE‐1) is the first spacecraft designed exclusively for radio astronomical studies. It is a small, but relatively complex, observatory including two 229‐meter antennas, several radiometer systems covering a frequency range of 0.2 to 9.2 MHz, and a variety of supporting experiments such as antenna impedance probes and TV cameras to monitor antenna shape. Since its launch in July, 1968, RAE‐1 has sent back some 10 10 data bits per year on measurements of long‐wavelength radio phenomena in the magnetosphere, the solar corona, and the galaxy. In this paper we describe the design, calibration, and performance of the RAE‐1 experiments in detail.