Trip Report: Software Engineering and Radio Astronomy

摘要

Upper Atmospheric Science (UAS) is the branch of science that studies the thermosphere and exosphere between 100 to 600 kilometers above the earth's surface. Here electrons and ions whiz about under the influence of solar radiation and the Earth's magnetic field. This branch of science has been quite active since the discovery of the solar wind in 1958, and has also been affected by the computer revolution like the rest of us. Today the radio telescope has merged with radar and software radio. The computer revolution for UAS has increased data rates to 20 terabits per second, with increased processing rates and lowered processing costs to match.