A Simple And Low Cost Two-Antennas Concept For The Tracking Of A Sounding Rocket Trajectory Using GPS

Abstract

This paper presents results from theoretical inivestigations and experiments concerning the development of GPS antennas concepts in the context of the application of GPS on sounding rockets. The results are based on research activieties, which has been undertaken at the German Space Operations Center (DLR), the National Institute of Space Research of Brazil (INPE) and the Aerospace Technical Center of Brazil (CTA/IAE). The objective of the research aesearch activities form INPE and CTA/IAE were to obtain detailed performance characteristics and design aspects for various possible antennas concepts directly linked to applications on Brazilian sounding rockets. The Germans DLR antenna experiment were performed in order to test a simple and low cost antenna concept, which was proposed by the Brazilian partners for a German GPS flight experiment on-board a Brazilian sounding rocket. This flight experiment was planned for the end of the year 2000 with the objective to track the trajectory of the sounding rocket based on GPS. Originally it was also planned to conduct this experiment on the Brazilian sounding rocket SV-40, but now the launcher is a VS30/Orion and the launch inm spring 2001. The results of the DLR antennas experiment are based on only two of the shelf GPS antennas will be presented. Results for this GPS antennas concept and the related performance characteristics like satellite visibility will be discussed in detail. Further on, the observed problems will also be covered by the discussion.