More and Juno Ka-band Transponder Design, Performance, Qualification and In-flight Validation

JUNO’s investigation focuses on four themes: origin, interior structure, atmospheric composition and dynamics, polar magnetosphere. Using a spinning solar-powered spacecraft, the Juno equipment will obtain global maps of the gravity, magnetic fields, and atmospheric composition of Jupiter from a unique polar orbit with a close perijove. JUNO carries in fact precise, high-sensitivity radiometers, magnetometers, and it provides accurate gravity radio-science capabilities that are supported by the KaT equipment. The KaT design is based on a combination of advanced signal processing algorithms and modern technological implementations. A picture of the KaT is reported in Fig. 1, while a high-level functional block diagram of the equipment is given in Fig. 2. The equipment is currently flying on-board the JUNO’s spacecraft.