Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System
Encyclopedia
The Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System (MSBLS) is a Ku band
approach and landing navigation aid formerly used by NASA
's space shuttle
. It provides precise elevation, directional and distance data which was used to guide the orbiter for the last two minutes of flight until touchdown. The signal is typically usable from a horizontal distance of approximately 28 km and from an altitude of approximately 5 km (18,000 feet).
MSBLS installations used by NASA have to be certified every two years for accuracy. Since 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration
works with NASA to execute this verification; previously, only NASA aircraft and equipment were used. Testing of the Kennedy Space Center
's MSBLS in 2004 revealed an accuracy of 5 centimeters.
The shuttle landing approach started with a glide slope of 19 degrees, which is over six times steeper than the typical 3-degree slope of commercial jet airliners.
Ku band
The Kμ band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies. This symbol refers to —in other words, the band directly below the K-band...
approach and landing navigation aid formerly used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. It provides precise elevation, directional and distance data which was used to guide the orbiter for the last two minutes of flight until touchdown. The signal is typically usable from a horizontal distance of approximately 28 km and from an altitude of approximately 5 km (18,000 feet).
MSBLS installations used by NASA have to be certified every two years for accuracy. Since 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
works with NASA to execute this verification; previously, only NASA aircraft and equipment were used. Testing of the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
's MSBLS in 2004 revealed an accuracy of 5 centimeters.
The shuttle landing approach started with a glide slope of 19 degrees, which is over six times steeper than the typical 3-degree slope of commercial jet airliners.