Improving weather-forecast based model chain to optimize data-volume transfer for Ka-band deep-space downlinks
This work aims at verifying an innovative approach for link-design optimization of deep-space missions working at Ka band. The presented approach exploits a weather forecast (WF) model coupled with a radiopropagation model to maximize data-transfer during a Ka-band downlink transmission. First, we exploit radiosounding data to tune the WF model on the geographical site of interest. As second step, we use microwave radiometric measurements to verify both WF and radiopropagation models.