1. Developed by Eastwood Im Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Nexrad In Space
Developed by Eastwood Im
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2. System Parameters Frequency (GHz) 35.605 Range Resolution (m) 250
Horizontal Resolution (km) 12
Pulse Compression Sidelobes (dB)
-55
Pulse Length (microsec) 60
Pulse Repetition Frequency (kHz)
~ 3
Bandwidth (MHz) 2
Sample Frequency (MHz) 10
Antenna Aperture (m) 28
Beamwidth (deg.)
0.02
Minimum Detectable Reflectivity (dBZ)
Doppler Accuracy (m/s) 1

3. Spiral Scan

4. Issues of Ground Clutter

5. Ground Clutter Cancellation

6. Antenna Technology
Spherical Antenna
Array Feed

7. Separate transmitter and receiver

8. Testing Antenna concept 1.5 m prototype

9. Anti Aliasing Technology

10. Weight NIS Radar Element Mass (kg) Spacecraft to radar I/F 10 Cables35
Power distribution unit 5
Digital subsystem
LO/IF electronics
RF electronics 20
Antenna feed and support structure
100
Antenna reflector and support structure
Deployment mechanism
600
200
Radiator and thermal control 90
Nuts/bolts, magnets, misc. H/W
Total (kg)
1085

11. Recommendation
Serious consideration should be given to the design and launch of a geostationary active microwave (Doppler radar) observation platform.
Continuous Doppler radar coverage of ocean basins frequented by tropical cyclones would :
Allow forecasters to monitor the 3D structure of tropical cyclones
offer the opportunity to assimilate cloud and mesoscale information into a cloud resolving tropical cyclone prediction model that would lead to incremental improvements in the prediction of tropical cyclone track, intensity and precipitation that could not be matched by any other foreseeable technology.