FUTURE-TRENDS IN ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION FOR THE UNITED-STATES SPACE PROGRAM

A key role of NASA (the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is to plan and execute programs, aimed at understanding the universe and matter, and the processes that underlie the development and evolution of life and the planet Earth. The part played by electromagnetic (EM) systems in information and energy transfer, and the tracking and imaging of objects and scenes, has been crucial to the successes of the space programs of various nations, to date. Indeed, the latest theories of the universe are based on the microwave-radiometer observations of the last two decades. The communications link, with manned and unmanned satellites, provides a crucial pathway for monitoring and controlling the health of these systems, as well as for transferring knowledge that is acquired by in-situ and remote observations. Previous space programs have also served the purpose of identifying the requirements for future electromagnetic systems, and associated techniques. In addition to small size, weight, and power consumption, the crucial requirements are in the radiation and thermal environment, in which the operation of these systems and the propagation of the EM waves should be assured. The Earth-observation applications of EM sensing include climate change, environmental monitoring, agriculture, geology, hydrology, urban planning, forest surveys, and ocean monitoring. Active- and passive-microwave, infrared, visible-band, and laser sensors will be used. Many emission, scattering, and propagation areas of EM research need to be addressed for these applications. Research and technique development will also be needed, in the areas of visualization and simulation, as tools for design and education purposes. New and innovative approaches, to the testing of propagation effects and antenna performance, can be developed through these software tools, in addition to training and education in the field of antennas and propagation.