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The UAF2 antenna is located at the Alaska Satellite (ASF) Enterprise Ground Station and provides reliable fiberoptic connectivity to the lower 48 states. The ground station’s location near Fairbanks, Alaska, (64.794, -147.536) is optimal for tracking polar-orbiting satellites. The climate is dry, and the winds are calm.

The UAF2 antenna is one of two antennas hosted at the ASF Enterprise Ground Station, which provides 9 to 10 supports per day per spacecraft. The station maintains and hosts customer-owned equipment and provides a fenced, gated facility with 24/7 police and operator video monitoring, a state-of-the-art fire suppression system, and a generator power supply backup. The station is supported by ground station engineers with decades of experience.

In addition, ASF Enterprise provides SAR training to assist the research and hazard response communities in understanding and applying SAR data to their specific applications. 
 

UAF2 Antenna Key Features

  • ViaSat 3-axis antenna
  • 9.1m parabolic reflector
  • X-band downlink
  • RHC polarization downlinks only
  • S-band uplink
  • Cassegrain configuration
  • Series 3880 ACU
  • Model 3316 pedestal
  • VHR-1200 high-rate receiver
  • Deicing system
  • 150W uplink amplifier
  • installed 1995/upgraded 2014
     

 

Specifications Table

UAF2 X-band Telemetry Characteristics

CharacteristicValue
Frequency8000-8500 MHz
G/TTheoretical = 34 dB @ 23 C @ 5 deg EL
System Noise Temperature92 K
PolarizationRHC
Antenna Beamwidth0.22 deg
Antenna Gain55dBi @ 53 K

UAF2 S-band Command Characteristics

CharacteristicValue
Frequency2042-2052 MHz
EIRP38 dBWi
PolarizationRHC
Antenna Beamwidth1.1.deg
Antenna Gain42.6 dBi
Output Power50 W
Carrier ModulationLinear PM
Modulation IndexPM: 1 Radian
BPSK
Subcarrier Frequency16 kHz
Subcarrier ModulationBPSK
Subcarrier Data Rate2 kbps


 

Instrument Type

Satellite Tracking and Communications Antenna

Instrument Subtype

9m Aperture Antenna

Specifications

Resolution

Frequently Asked Questions

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