Technical Committee 12: Space

Deep Space Science, Earth Monitoring, Extraterrestrial Monitoring, Radio Astronomy

Roles

The roles of the AP-S TC on Space are to provide technical expertise and assistance to AP-related publications, conferences, events, standards, and local chapters on antenna-system related matters in the fields of Deep Space Science, Earth Monitoring, Extraterrestrial Monitoring and Radio Astronomy. Through these activities, the committee aims to foster collaboration among researchers, engineers, and industry experts to share knowledge, drive innovation, and address common challenges. By organizing specialized workshops and contributing to technical panels, the committee hopes to help shape the development of cutting-edge antenna designs, advanced measurement techniques, and more effective system integration. In addition, it supports educational programs and technical outreach in collaboration with local IEEE chapters, helping to create pathways for emerging professionals to contribute to the field. Ultimately, the committee’s work has as its mission to strengthen the global community dedicated to advancing antenna-related research and developments that serve near- and deep-space missions, terrestrial observations, and radio astronomy.

Scope

Advanced Antenna Arrays for Deep-Space Missions – Exploration of new designs and configurations to enable reliable, long-range communication.
High-Sensitivity Sensor Technology for Earth Monitoring – Research on low-noise receivers and precision measurement techniques to improve remote sensing capabilities.
Radio Astronomy Instrumentation – Development of next-generation antennas and receiver systems for enhanced cosmic signal detection.
Calibration and RFI (Radio-Frequency Interference) Mitigation – Strategies to ensure accurate observations and reduce interference in space and ground-based systems.
Signal Processing and Beamforming Techniques – Innovations that optimize data collection, increase resolution, and bolster detection of faint signals when using array antennas for scientific and monitoring instrumentation.
Low-Frequency Antenna Development – Addressing the unique challenges of observing cosmic and planetary phenomena at very low frequencies.
Standardization of Measurement and Evaluation Methods – Efforts to harmonize technical guidelines and performance assessments of ground- and space-based scientific instrument antennas across the global community in collaboration with the IEEE AP-S Standards Committee and other international bodies.
Planetary Radar Systems – Enhancing radar-based observation for planetary surface mapping and extraterrestrial exploration.
Integration of Antenna Systems in Multi-Satellite Constellations – Ensuring effective communication networks and sharing of data among diverse satellite platforms.
Space-based Radio Astronomy Systems – Design and development of radio astronomy instrumentation for deployment on satellites, the moon, and beyond.