Synthetic thinned aperture radiometer for Mars exploration
One of NASA's long term goals is determining if subsurface water on Mars exists and, if water is found, whether it could be accessed by future manned space missions. A shorted-annular-ring reduced-surface-wave (SAR-RSW) design is presented under the realistic constraints already mentioned. This design is compared with a circular patch and the performance differences are discussed. Next, results of a STAR design are discussed as well as a brief overview of antenna performance under deformation conditions.