ACTS Propagation Experiment and Solar/Lunar Intrusions

Abstract

In this paper are described the effects that solar and lunar intrusions have on statistical analysis of the data. The NASA ACTS experiment focuses on the 20 and 27 GHz radiometer and beacon. The experiment is currently compiling a database for the attenuation for these different channels. For the year of 1994 our sight obtained 86.5 hours of attenuation and for 1995 our sight obtained 77 hours of attenuation. The total amount of interference time for sun/lunar intrusions for 1994 and 1995 was respectively, 39 hours and 38.5 hours, which is nearly half the total amount of attenuation due to rain and cloud fades. It is clear to see why this data must be taken out for any type of statistical analysis of the data.