Atmospheric Meteorological Probe, AN/AMQ-23(XE-2).
Abstract:
An atmospheric meteorological probe the ANAMQ-23XE-2 consists of a balloon-borne, battery-powered radiosonde and a corner reflector. The radiosonde sends data on air temperature and humidity to an ANTMQ-19XE-1 automatic atmospheric sounding set ground station from altitudes up to 100,000 feet. A radar signal is reflected by the corner reflector back to the ANTMQ-19XE-1. Angle tracking the radiosonde and range tracking the radar reflector provide azimuth, elevation, and slant range information from which velocity and altitude are computed. Temperature and humidity data are extracted from the modulated carrier wave by the ground tracking system. The radiosonde consists of a radio-frequency transmitter and discone antenna, temperature and humidity sensors, a clock-driven commutator, and a battery. Three inches in diameter and 13 inches long, the complete unit weighs approximately 1.75 pounds. Author