CloudCube

We propose to develop a multi-frequency millimeter-wave radar system, named CloudCube, using a minimalistic architecture that vastly reduces mass, power, size, development time and recurring costs. The instrument will enable unprecedented mission concepts that would fill existing gaps in the observation of a variety of cloud and precipitation processes. Mission concepts include, but are not limited to, low-cost radar measurements from small spacecraft platforms relevant to observation of cloud, convection and precipitation processes, global monitoring of atmospheric winds and observations of critical elements of the planetary boundary layer. For the first time, CloudCube combines Ka-, W- and G-band (35/94/238 GHz, respectively) radar backscatter with Doppler velocity measurement capability at Ka-band to simultaneously observes key components of a variety of atmospheric processes; however, the CloudCube design is modular allowing for selection of different subsets of the radar frequencies to meet targeted mission observables from a resource-limited platform. This new radar instrument provides flexible and timely capabilities to complement other instruments (e.g. lidar/spectrometer/microwave radiometer) in the Cloud Convection and Precipitation (CCP) architecture and expands the science return for other mission concepts not primarily hinged on radar observations. The concept has an entry level TRL of 3, with many critical components and subsystems at higher TRL. We will raise to TRL 6 over a three-year effort. The instrument is designed and built from extensive heritage of JPL technology development for NASA. Some of the enabling technologies are: 1) a compact radar architecture utilizing offset I/Q with pulse compression which was demonstrated with RainCube (Radar In a Cube, NASA InVEST-15), 2) high-efficient Schottky diode frequency-multipliers, 3) a low-power, on-board digital processor and 4) the Displaced Phase Center Antenna (DPCA) approach to enable coherent measurements with small aperture antennas. The radar electronics will be developed under this project and consist of three transceivers that integrate all-solid-state transmit and receive devices inside compact modules. The transmit sources use waveguide power combining geometry with Schottky diodes at G-band and low voltage power amplifiers at both Ka- and W-bands to achieve the required transmitter power, which is kept at or below 10 W to avoid any complications from multipaction, breakdown, arcing and thermal dissipation. For the radar receivers, GaAs and InP low-noise amplifiers are used which have state-of-the-art noise temperatures. The CloudCube electronics are compatible with a number of specific antenna solutions and mission architectures to maximize its reconfigurability and tailor its resources to specific sets of science requirements.

Increase scientific understanding of natural phenomena using remote sensing

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