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8:00 PM
- Call to order and introduction of tonight's program: |
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Speaker: |
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Dale Force of the NASA Glenn Research
Center in Cleveland, OH. |
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Presentation: |
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NASA Glenn Research
Center’s contribution to the radio science experiment on the Cassini
mission to Saturn |
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  The radio
science experiment has been used to test General Relativity and search
for gravitational waves. The experiment continues to be used for
precision navigation, allowing measurements of the gravitational field
of Saturn and its moons. The experiment is also used in occultation
measurements of the atmosphere and ionosphere of Saturn and its larger
moons.
The Glenn Research Center developed the Ka band high power amplifier for
the mission. Cassini was the first deep space mission to use the Ka band
deep space frequency band at 32 GHz. Although Cassini only used this
band for radio science, Cassini proved the technology mature, allowing
the use of Ka band communications on later NASA missions such as Kepler.
The Cassini Ka band high power amplifier is a 10 W traveling wave tube
amplifier. Traveling wave tubes are an advanced form of vacuum tube used
for high power microwave amplification. |
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9:00 PM - Brief coffee-break
/ discussion time |
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9:15 PM - Business meeting
to be called to order and included the following: |
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● Treasurer's Report |
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● Observatory Director's Report |
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● Calls for observations |
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● New Business |
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