Deep space telecom and radar in a Ka-band ground station antenna

Deep Space Telecommunication with satellites to Jupiter and beyond require high power transmission capabilities for the ground-segment and highly sensitive reception capability. Radar functionality calls for high transmission power, for instance for imaging a Near-Earth Object. This paper discusses a perspective scenario to equip a 35 m ground-station antenna with a high power Ka transmitter and having available sensitive reception capability mono- or bi-static. A 35 m ground-station antenna as used in ESA's ground-segment is considered only for descriptive reasons. Consideration is given to a number of aspects (not-exhaustive), which need to be taken into account. Different frequency bands are used for Deep Space telecommunication for up and downlink, for radar functionality, the same frequency band is used in up- and down-link with consequences for a transmission-reception scenario. One needs duplexers, or more a use of a bi-static scenario. The authors discuss this scenario, which is not in any approved planning or program.