Lanterna Rally

Author: John I. Videberg

Publisher:

Published: 1967

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13:

A critical study of the interrelationship between ionospheric environmental characteristics and HF radio propagation phenomena using satellites is described. The project is implemented by the experiment consisting of two slowly-separating satellites in the lower F-region ionosphere and two special receiving-transmitting ground stations. Measurements of radio propagation characteristics are made along the signal path between satellites as well as to the ground until separation reaches antipodability. These measurements including signal loss, pulse dispersion, long-range ducting, radio holes and shielding from ground, space, or other satellites to be compared with calculations based on simultaneous environmental measurements are discussed. Environmental data to be measured includes in-situ electron densities, integrated values along signal paths near ground stations using dispersive doppler, Faraday, and pulse-delay techniques. Top and bottom sounder data will be combined with the propagation data using sophisticated 3-D ray-tracing techniques. The result is a comprehensive synoptic picture of the complex ionosphere-structure propagation-effect to provide new insights into ducting, especially the separation of various phenomena such as injection-ejection, scatter effects, antenna detuning and plasma resonances, and the role of irregularities. Predicted propagation results, including ray patterns, calculated for expected ionospheric conditions at the time of the anticipated experiment are presented together with a description of the instrumentation. (Author).