John Kendra
Leidos, Inc.
A large virtual RF aperture is established via a rotating tether affording capability leaps in space-based imaging 1-D sparse real array on a rigid tether and a tethered rotating antenna element continuously create a very large 2-D virtual array. Ultimate array size is limited only by feasibility constraints on length of rigid tether.
Potential mission applications include:
- Persistent (GEO-based) RF earth imaging (for soil moisture, ocean salinity, surface temp., sea surface wind, etc.)
- Mapping coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from a solar polar orbit
- Any RF remote sensing applications requiring an extra-large aperture
Major tasks
- Concept Validation and Performance Modeling
- Alternative Approaches Evaluation
- Mission Analysis for Technology Application
