Project Title:

Active Calibrator for TRMM Rain Radar

Center for Remote Sensing
8260 Greensboro Drive, Suite 328
McLean, VA 22102

93-1-08     04   0800B

Active Calibrator for TRMM Rain Radar

Abstract:

We propose to design a state-of-the-art active radar calibrator
which will be used for absolute calibration of the TRMM Rain
Radar. During Phase I, we investigate several architectures and
perform design evaluations with the ultimate objective of
designing an improved radar calibrator with unprecedented
accuracy and stability, yet optimized for cost and complexity.
The active calibrator will be optimized for cost, weight,
reliability, stability, gain, sidelobe, cross polarization, etc.
The absolute accuracy should be much better then 1 dB. We shall
investigate the limiting factors in attaining gain stability of
0.1 dB or so. Critical technology requirements will be identified
and finally we shall perform a complete design for the optimized
candidate. The design will include Receiving and Transmitting
antennas, active transponder and complete configuration including
Radome and housing. Based on the design and performance
estimates, we shall construct a prototype unit and test it during
Phase II. We propose to undertake the manufacture and field
deployment of such units during and beyond Phase II.

The calibrator will be designed for TRMM Rain Radar and will 
have immediate application in several countries involved with
TRMM. There is large-scale interest by various agencies (NASA,
ESA, and DOD agencies) for superior active radar calibrators.
Various applications also exist for the subsystems, such as
antennas, stable amplifiers, etc.

Calibrators, Active Calibrators, Active Radar Calibrator,
Extremely Stable Amplifier, High Stability Amplifier.