Evaluating the Terrantenna - Atmospheric Lensing for Boosting Deep-Space Radio Communications

Earth’s atmosphere bends light rays as they pass through it, concentrating them on the other side. A radio receiver spacecraft with a relatively small antenna, at the proper position in space, could take advantage of this effect to receive data from other spacecraft on the Deep Space Network (DSN) at higher rates than are possible with the largest ground-based antennas. This project will advance this concept by creating a model of the interactions between the relevant variables, using that model to refine calculations of potential data rate improvements, and identifying both challenges for further research and opportunities for a demonstration.

Inspiration for this project came from the “Terrascope” concept created by Dr. David Kipping at Columbia University in 2019.

This architecture could increase the signal-to-noise ratio of radio links between deep-space missions and Earth, which would increase the achievable data rates of the transmission. This would benefit both active and future interplanetary missions by allowing them to return more science data, use a smaller antenna (saving weight and size), use a lower transmission power (allowing for smaller solar panels or less plutonium), or take up less time on the Deep Space Network, allowing for a higher mission capacity.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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