Q6 Antenna Structure
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Current revision (08:14, 18 November 2011) (edit) Paul (Talk | contribs) |
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| A NASA '''Technical Information Bulletin''' announcing the imminent construction stated:<BR> | A NASA '''Technical Information Bulletin''' announcing the imminent construction stated:<BR> | ||
| - | ''“The antenna pedestal is a precision, two-axis mount, using hydrostatic bearing in azimuth and phase roller bearings in elevation to provide mobility and support to the counter-balanced, solid-surface antenna. The antenna is positioned through anti-backlash dual-drive pedestal gearing via a high | + | ''“The antenna pedestal is a precision, two-axis mount, using hydrostatic bearing in azimuth and phase roller bearings in elevation to provide mobility and support to the counter-balanced, solid-surface antenna. The antenna is positioned through anti-backlash dual-drive pedestal gearing via a high torque-to-inertia electro-hydraulic valve motor system. … A viscous coupler located between the valve motor and pedestal drive gearing damped out undesired mechanical resonances.”'' [1] |
| - | torque-to-inertia electro-hydraulic valve motor system. … A viscous coupler | + | |
| - | located between the valve motor and pedestal drive gearing damped out undesired | + | |
| - | mechanical resonances.”'' [1] | + | |
| Put simply, the whole 30-ton pedestal, plus the dish, floated and rotated on | Put simply, the whole 30-ton pedestal, plus the dish, floated and rotated on | ||
Current revision
- Antenna structure
- Tracking and Ranging
- Brief system details
- RCA Computer
- Key Q6 Mission Activity
- Research activity
- BDA, CRO & RCA: Q6 partners
- Other Q-6 tales
Back to Station Equipment
The first shipment of Gemini equipment - included the FPQ-6 antenna pedestal its heaviest item - arrived in November 1963 and was transported to Carnarvon. An 80-ton crane - the largest vehicle then to have used the North West Coastal Highway - travelled north to lift the pedestal into position.
As befitting a precision instrument, the Azimuth-Elevation antenna structure and 8.8m (29ft) parabolic dish was erected upon a specially designed rigid foundation; a thick concrete base which had been poured onto several foundation piles driven 10 metres into one ancient sand dune on Browns Range.
A NASA Technical Information Bulletin announcing the imminent construction stated:
“The antenna pedestal is a precision, two-axis mount, using hydrostatic bearing in azimuth and phase roller bearings in elevation to provide mobility and support to the counter-balanced, solid-surface antenna. The antenna is positioned through anti-backlash dual-drive pedestal gearing via a high torque-to-inertia electro-hydraulic valve motor system. … A viscous coupler located between the valve motor and pedestal drive gearing damped out undesired mechanical resonances.” [1]
Put simply, the whole 30-ton pedestal, plus the dish, floated and rotated on a thin film of hydraulic oil that covered the shallow dome beneath it, which in turn sat atop the huge mass of concrete.
Reference:
[1] Technical Information Bulletin, GSFC, MSFN: Vol.1 No.11; July 26, 1963
