PLACES (Position Location and Communication Effects Simulations) Beacon experiment test results. Technical report, 1 May 1981-1 August 1984

During December 1980, the Position Location and Communication Effects Simulations (PLACES) Experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of structured ionospheric plasmas on satellite communications and navigation systems. A series of four separate artificial ionospheric plasma environments were created on separate evenings by 48-kg barium releases from rockets launched from Eglin AFB, FL. This report describes the measurements of the time-of-arrival spread of energy (channel impulse response) on a phase coded spread spectrum signal emanating from a rocket launched behind the barium cloud and received at specially constructed ground receiving site in northern Florida (Beacon experiment). The data are shown to be in good agreement with the DNA propagation channel model and a geometric optics interpretation of the observed propagation effects.