Science Results

The objective of the ngRADAR project is the design of a high-power, high-frequency, solid-state, multistatic planetary radar system. Proof-of-concept observations were completed in November 2020 and March 2021 using a 700 W, Ku-band, solid-state transmitter built by Raytheon and mounted at the prime focus of the 100-m Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Echoes from select targets were received by the ten 25-m antennas of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), located on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, in the east, across the continental United States, and to Mauna Kea, Hawaii, in the west. The 700 W transmitter was redeployed on the GBT in October and December 2024. For additional information, see Publications and Conferences, and stay tuned for further results!

Results of Proof-of-Concept Observations

The image(s) below were formed by transmitting a signal from the GBT to specific sites on the Moon with the echoes received by the VLBA.

Transmitter Power = ~700 W

Transmitter Frequency = Ku band, 13.9 GHz (2.16 cm)

Waveform Bandwidth = 30 MHz, "chirp" (linear frequency modulated) waveform

Effective Range Resolution = 5 m/pixel (based on waveform bandwidth)

Transmitter Polarization = Linear

Receiver Polarization = Dual Circular

Receive Site = Fort Davis VLBA antenna

Integration Time = ~40 minutes

ngRADAR: Tycho Crater on the Moon (March 2021) — Tycho crater on the Moon imaged in March 2021 with 5 meter range resolution using the 700 W transmitter on the GBT with echoes received by the Fort Davis antenna of the VLBA. This image has been reduced in size and resampled. See link below for full-size image. Image Credit: NSF/AUI/NRAO/Raytheon.

PNG Versions: Original Size (18,432x28,109 ; Size Warning: 371 MB) 1/4 Size (4608x7027 ; 22 MB ; resampled) 1/8 Size (2304x3514 ; resampled)

Acknowledgments

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory, including Green Bank Observatory and the Very Long Baseline Array, is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI). Part of this work was supported by Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure-1 award 2131866 from the NSF to AUI. Image processing by industry partners, Raytheon. Image Credit: NSF/AUI/NRAO/Raytheon.

GBT prototype-VLBA (Ku multistatic) — Linear and polygonal structures on the floor of Tycho crater at 5 meters range resolution.

Original Size (445x325) Small Size (420x307) Tiny Size (320x234)

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or other funding agencies.