Radio astronomy signal processing techniques for phased array ground

Radio astronomy and satellite communications have much technology in common - both use antennas, often parabolic dish antennas, to receive fain signals from objects in space. There are also differences - satellite ground stations also need to transmit signals to the satellites, while radio telescopes typically detect much fainter signals than is typical in communications. There is planned to be a huge increase in the next decade in the number of satellites in use, providing communication services, observing the Earth and its environment from space, and exploring the solar system. In this project, we will take technology developed for radio telescopes and use it to greatly improve the cost-effectiveness of satellite ground stations. We will use advanced signal processing hardware and methods to allow satellite ground stations to be constructed from large arrays of relatively inexpensive antennas, rather than single very large antennas. These arrays will be used both to receive signals (as radio telescopes do) and to transmit signals to distant satellites and space probes. As well as being cheaper to construct than conventional large antennas, this will allow much more flexible use of the ground station, with sub-arrays of antennas being used for less demanding applications. The grant will pay for a researcher based at the University of Oxford to work alongside engineers at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd (GES) in Cornwall, transferring expertise developed for radio telescope designs, and on hardware to provide demonstration of the key technical capabilities we need to provide. GES will provide engineering effort, facilities and hardware and an equal share of the equipment costs.