Ground Systems

 

Antenna Installation
  

 
Delivery and installation of the Berkeley Ground Station by EMP Systems began in the early morning hours of October 4, 1999 and was accomplished by October 8. The entire antenna system arrived on three large semi-trailer truck loads. The installation sequence on the site is illustrated below. The pedestal and rear of the reflector were painted in a green tone to blend into nature.
 
   


Truck delivering the riser base and the container with the 24 reflector panels (October 4, 1999). Container with 24 reflector panel segments (October 4, 1999).
A 75-ton crane lifts the riser base off the truck and places it onto the foundation. The riser base by itself weighs 11,000 pounds (October 4, 1999). A major relief: the bolt pattern matches perfectly (October 4, 1999).
Container with 24 support structure elements of the reflector (October 4, 1999). Truck with azimuth drive system (October 4, 1999).
T-head and yoke arm assembly is lifted to the top of the pedestal (October 4, 1999). EMP Systems crew securing the T-head and yoke arm assembly in place (October 4, 1999).
Installation of the cross-elevation drive system (October 5, 1999). Assembled reflector support structure. Two of the 24 reflector panels and the feed supports are visible in the foreground (October 5, 1999).
Assembled support structure and 2 of the 24 panels of the 11-m reflector (October 5, 1999). Aerial view of the assembled pedestal with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The reflector will be bolted to the top surface of the cross-elevation drive system (October 5, 1999).
The first 5 of 24 reflector segments have been installed on the support structure (October 5, 1999). Fully assembled reflector before hoisting (October 6, 1999).
The installation crew performs last-minute inspections of the reflector support structure (October 6, 1999). First motion of the fully assembled reflector. The weight of the 11-m reflector is about 6,800 pounds (October 6, 1999).
The 11-m reflector is being lifted to the top of pedestal (October 6, 1999). The reflector is lifted onto the pedestal (October 6, 1999).
The reflector is almost installed on the pedestal (October 6, 1999). The installation crew secures the 16 bolts that fasten the reflector to the cross-elevation drive system ontop of the pedestal (October 6, 1999).
The reflector has been fastened to the cross-elevation drive system (October 6, 1999). The antenna is moved toward the horizon for the first time. Total weight of the entire antenna system is about 36,000 pounds (October 6, 1999).
Installation of the support spars for the feed system (October 7, 1999). Installation of the support spars for the feed system (October 7, 1999).
Did the Blue Angels really visit the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate the arrival of the new antenna? Or was it because of Fleet Week? (October 7, 1999) Completely assembled antenna in the evening Sun (October 7, 1999).
Close-up view of the S-band feed system (October 7, 1999). Close-up view of the S-band feed system (October 7, 1999).
EMP Systems crew installing cabling (October 8, 1999). Completed 11-m antenna, view from the south (October 8, 1999).
Close-up view of the completed 11-m antenna (October 10, 1999). Aerial view of the completed Berkeley Ground Station overlooking the San Francisco Bay (October 10, 1999).
Weather station and GPS antennas are mounted on the roof of the Space Sciences Laboratory (October 10, 1999). Close-up view of weather station and GPS antennas (October 10, 1999).