Past activities at KPGO
KPGO operations began in 1961. At that time, KPGO was part of the NASA Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN). Past activities include:
- PRARE: The PRARE (Precise Range And Range-rate Equipment) system is a two-way, two-frequency microwave satellite tracking system that enabled the ERS-2 satellite to communicate with ground stations starting in 1995. KPGO maintained a PRARE station until 2006, when it could no longer be repaired due to a lack of spare parts.
- UH 3-m VLBI antenna: This antenna supported the UH PEACESAT system until it was replaced by the UH 7-m antenna.
- UH 7-m VLBI antenna: This was a command and receive antenna that was part of the PEACESAT system. PEACESAT (Pan-Pacific Education and Communication Experiments by SATellite) supports developmental and public service communications in the Pacific. The 7-m antenna also supported GOES-7. KPGO hosted the 7-m antenna from 2007 until the end of 2011.
- VHF VLBI antenna: This antenna was used for satellite tracking prior to the developemnt of unified S-band technology.
- Unified S-band 9-m antenna: This antenna was part of the STDN (Satellite Tracking Data Network). Its participation in VLBI observing dates back to 1984, when it observed GAPE (Great Alaska and Pacific Experiment) sessions. It later observed in VLBI sessions from 1986 until 1989, when STDN operations at Kokee ended and Kokee was transferred to GSFC's Crustal Dynamics Project (CDP). Then it observed weekly for USNO as part of the NAVNET network. The 9-m antenna was eventually replaced by the 20-m S/X antenna, and the 9-m antenna was dismantled in 2015/2016.
- Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) relay station: The TWSTFT technique measures the delay of signals that travel both ways between two clocks. The KPGO station was operational from 2011 through 2016. The equipment is now inactive, but remains at KPGO.
