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Completed TRL 1 (started at 1, targeting 1)
This proposed effort seeks to upgrade the Ka-band (35 GHz) transceiver of the GSFC High-altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) radar so that it can be paired with another GSFC W-band (94 GHz) Cloud Radar System (CRS) as an airborne simulator for the Decadal Survey Aerosol Cloud Ecosystem (ACE) spaceborne radar. The technical objective is to utilize cutting-edge high efficient solid state power amplifier and low loss front-end to improve the HIWRAP Ka-band system performance.
Utilizing cutting-edge high power solid state power amplifier and low loss front-end components to improve system sensitivity. Leveraging the SSPA technology that has been developed for the GPM DC3R Ka-band radar. Using high speed switching technique on the SSPA bias voltage to improve the power efficiency, reduce heat dissipation and reduce thermal noise. Maximize the usage of the current HIWRAP Ka-band transceiver hardware. Lab test and evaluation, then aircraft integration. Collaborators: Gerry Heymsfield
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