Scientific instrumentation of the Radio-Astronomy-Explorer-2 satellite.
Abstract
The instrumentation of the RAE-2 spacecraft is described. The instruments include a pair of long travelling-wave antennas, a 37-m dipole, two radiometers making one frequency scan every 144 sec, and two rapid-sampling total-power burst receivers which cover the range from 0.025 to 13.1 MHz in 32 discrete steps. Effects of terrestrial noise on RAE-1 and RAE-2 observations are discussed, and it is noted that RAE-2 is uniquely capable of observing repeated lunar occultations of strong radio sources at very low frequencies. Some observational programs are briefly noted, including observations of the galactic background distribution, measurements of lunar occultations of solar radio bursts, and searches for more radio sources among the planets, galactic objects, and extragalactic sources.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975A&A....40..365A
- Keywords:
-
- Lunar Occultation;
- Radio Astronomy Explorer Satellite;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Antenna Design;
- Dipole Antennas;
- Explorer 38 Satellite;
- Radio Receivers;
- Satellite Antennas;
- Solar Radio Bursts;
- Astronomy