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

Werner Enderle, Christian Arbinger, Cynthia Junqueira and Paulo G. Milani

Abstract:	This paper presents results from theoretical investigations and experiments concerning the development of GPS an- tennas concepts in the context of the application of GPS on sounding rockets. The results are based on research activi- ties, which has been undertaken at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the National Institute of Space Research of Brazil (INPE) and the Aerospace Technical Center of Bra- zil (CTA/IAE). The objective of the research activities from INPE and CTA/IAE were to obtain detailed perform- ance characteristics and design aspects for various possible antennas concepts directly linked to applications on Brazil- ian sounding rockets. The Germans DLR antenna experi- ment 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 in spring 2001. The results of the DLR antennas experiment are based on the SV-40 as the launcher. A simple and low cost GPS an- tennas concept, based on only two off the shelf GPS an- tennas 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 discus- sion.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000) September 19 - 22, 2000 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	376 - 383
Cite this article:	Enderle, Werner, Arbinger, Christian, Junqueira, Cynthia, Milani, Paulo G., "A Simple And Low Cost Two-Antennas Concept For The Tracking Of A Sounding Rocket Trajectory Using GPS," Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2000, pp. 376-383.
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