AlphaSat Ka-band and Q-band Receiving Station in Rome: Development, status and measurements

A Ka-band (20 GHz) and Q-band (40 GHz) receiving station, located in Rome (Italy), has been designed and implemented to receive the beacon of the AlphaSat satellite Technology Demonstrator Payload 5 “Aldo Paraboni”. Ka-band station is complete and its preliminary measurements are shown. Mechanical antenna tracking is also foreseen. Q-band station is being assembled and should be tested in early 2015. A laboratory characterization of all blocks and subsystems has been carried out and is briefly described. The design and implementation of a W-band microwave radiometer is also on going, whereas Ka- and Q-band beacon data are combined with measurements from a meteorological station, raingauge and disdrometer.