Path loss prediction over lunar surface with obstacle diffraction

A new solution to predict radio wave propagation loss over lunar surface with obstacles is proposed. For this method, transmission loss over lunar surface is simplified into four typical cases, which are smooth sphere, rough sphere, cascaded knife-edge and cascaded rounded, according to the irregularities of lunar surface and the obstacle's shape. For this analysis, the free space transmission loss, the ground proximity loss, diffraction loss and antenna gain are considered. Simulation results showed that the prediction results fit well with the measured data and the cascaded obstacles' diffraction goes well with the feature of radio propagation. The presented method is very useful for designing wireless communication system over lunar surface.