Antenna Testing for the SkyFall Mission at JPL
As part of the preparations for NASA’s SkyFall mission, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California are conducting antenna tests in the facility’s electromagnetic interference (EMI) chamber. The test article is a ground‑penetrating radar antenna that forms part of the mission’s science payload.
Engineer Maya Román attaches the antenna to a coaxial cable to monitor signal integrity during the measurements. The setup is performed inside the EMI chamber of the Environmental Test Lab to suppress external interference and obtain accurate antenna pattern data.
To reduce reflections and self‑interference, the antenna is pointed upward during the test. This orientation minimizes multipath effects within the chamber and yields a cleaner measurement of the antenna’s radiation characteristics.
Each antenna unit carries four instruments that operate simultaneously to collect data. The results will be used to verify the radar system’s performance and to make any necessary adjustments before launch.