Overview of arraying techniques for deep space communications

Four different arraying schemes applicable to deep space communications are discussed and analyzed. These include symbol stream combining (SSC), baseband combining (BC), carrier arraying (CA) and full spectrum combining (FSC). In addition, sideband aiding (SA) is also included and compared. Moreover, combinations of these schemes are introduced and discussed such as carrier arraying with sideband aiding and baseband combining (CA/SA/BC) or carrier arraying with symbol stream combining (CA/SSC), just to name a few. Complexity versus performance is traded off throughout the paper and benefits to the reception of existing spacecraft signals are discussed.< >