Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility
Russian ionospheric heating facility for research and low-frequency emission studies.
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The Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility is a laboratory for ionosphere research located near the small town of Vasilsursk, about 100 km (60 miles) eastward from Nizhniy Novgorod in Russia. It is operated by the radiophysical research institute NIRFI in Nizhny Novgorod and was commissioned in 1981.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Near Vasilsursk, about 100 km (60 miles) eastward from Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
- Operator
- Radiophysical research institute NIRFI in Nizhny Novgorod
- Commissioned
- 1981
- Frequency range
- 4.5 to 9.3 MHz
- Transmitters
- Three 250 kW (335 hp) broadcasting transmitters
- Antenna array
- 144 crossed dipole antenna-array, dimensions 300 m × 300 m (1000 ft × 1,000 ft / 305 m)
- Maximum erp
- 190 MW (~83 dBW)
Facts from the source article.
Background
The Sura facility was commissioned in 1981, with the Soviet Defense Department initially providing most of the funding. It is capable of radiating about 80 megawatts at 4.3 MHz, increasing to 260 megawatts at 9.5 MHz. The facility consists of three 250 kW broadcasting transmitters and a 144 crossed dipole antenna-array with dimensions of 300 metres by 300 metres. At the middle of its operating frequency range (4.5–9.3 MHz), a maximum zenith gain of about 260 (~24 dB) is reached, yielding an effective radiated power of 190 MW (~83 dBW).
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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