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Stephen Lowe

Researcher

About

Bio

Dr. Lowe has worked in the Tracking Systems and Applications section at JPL since 1987.  He helped make the first measurement of planetary relativistic deflection, created one of the world’s first VLBI software correlators, performed the signal processing of Huygens Probe data as it descended to Titan’s surface, and was one of the early developers of GNSS remote sensing.

Education

  • Ph.D. Physics, Stanford University, 1986
  • B. S. Physics, Colorado School of Mines, 1980
  • B. S. Mathematics, Colorado School of Mines, 1980

Research Interests

  • Radar Tracking of Lunar Orbiters (2021-Present)
  • GNSS Tracking from GEO (2019-Present)
  • GNSS Earth Remote Sensing (1998-present)
  • High-Accuracy Radio-Interferometry / Astrometry (1987-Present)
  • Pulsar Astronomy/Astrometry (2008-Present)
  • Reconfigurable Spaceborne GPS Receiver Development (2011-2013)
  • Spacecraft Radar Imaging (2009-present)
  • Huygens Probe Wind Experiment (2004-2006)
  • Weak-Signal Spacecraft Detection (1997, 2000)
  • Neutrino Astronomy (1995-2005)
  • Optical Interferometry (1993-95)
  • Antenna Array-Feed (1994-95)
  • Experimental Tests of General Relativity (1987-1992)
  • Rare Tau Decay Modes (1986-1987)
  • Radiative Decays of the Upsilon(1S) (1980-1986)

Experience

Professional Experience

  • JPL 1987-Present, Technologist V, Principle
  • Stanford University, 1986-1987, Post-Doc

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

  • JPL Team Award | JPL Team Award, NTS3 Experiment (2022)
  • JPL Voyager Award (2020)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Multi-static Radar Demonstration Team (2018)
  • JPL Voyager Award (2015)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, MSL Project Operations Team (2013)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Phoenix Mission Design & Navigation (2009)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Huygens Ground Doppler Team (2006)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Huygens Probe Earth-Detection Team (2006)
  • NASA Award | NASA Space Act Major Award, Softc: A VLBI Software Correlator (2005)
  • JPL Principal Designation | 335B - GNSS And Signals Of Opportunity Flight Instruments (2004)
  • NASA Award | NASA Cert. of Recognition, Delay/Doppler Receiver System for GPS-Reflection Remote Sensing (2003)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Delta-DOR Implementation Team (2002)
  • NASA Award | NASA Honors Group Achievement Award, Deformable Flat Plate/Array Feed Compensation (2000)

Publications

  1. Roberts, T.M., I. Colwell, C. Chew, S. Lowe, R. Shah, “A Deep-Learning Approach to Soil Moisture Estimation with GNSS-R”, Remote Sensing, 2022, 14, 3299.
  2. Lowe, S., C. Chew, J. Shah, M. Kilzer, “An aircraft Wetland Inundation Experiment Using GNSS Reflectometry”, Remote Sensing 2020, 12, 512.
  3. Mashburn, J., P. Axelrad, S. Lowe, K. Larson, “Global Ocean Altimetry with GPS Reflections from TechDemoSat-1”, TGRS, Vol 56, 7, July 2018
  4. Zuffada, C., et al, “Assessing the Altimetric Measurement from Cygnss Data”,  in IGARSS, in press, 2018
  5. Chew, C., S. Lowe, N. Parazoo, S. Esterhuizen, S. Oveisgharan, E. Podest, C. Zuffada, A. Freedman, “SMAP Radar Receiver Measures Land Surface Freeze/Thaw State Through Capture of Forward-Scattered L-Band Signals”, Remote Sensing of Environment 198, p333, 2017.
  6. Carreno-Luengo, S. Lowe, C. Zuffada, S. Esterhuizen, S. Oveisgharan, “Spaceborne GNSS-R from the SMAP Mission: First Assessment of Polarimetric Scatterometry over Land and Cryosphere”, Remote Sensing, 2017, 9, 362.
  7. Nghiem, S., C. Zuffada , R. Shah , C. Chew , S. Lowe , A.Mannucci, E. Cardellach , G. Brakenridge , G. Geller, A. Rosenqvist, “Wetland Dynamics Monitoring with Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry, AGU Journal of Earth and Space Science, July 2016.
  8. Lowe, S.T., T. Meehan, L. Young "Direct-Signal Enhanced Semi-Codeless Processing of GNSS Surface-Reflected Signals", IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, Vol 7, Issue 5 (2014)
  9. Treuhaft, R.N., S.T. Lowe, E. Cardellach, "Formulating a Vector Wave Expression for Polarimetric GNSS Surface Scattering", Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 33, 257-276, 2011.
  10. Folkner, W.M., et al., “Winds on Titan from Ground-Based Tracking of the Huygens Probe,” J. of Geophy.. Res., 11, E07S02, 2006.
  11. Zuffada, C., T. Elfouhaily and S.T. Lowe: “Sensitivity Analysis of Wind Vector Measurements from Ocean Reflected GPS Signals,” Rem. Sens. of the Envir., 88 (3) p 341-350, Dec. 2003.
  12. Lowe, S., C. Zuffada, Y. Chao, P. Kroger, J. LaBrecque, L.E. Young, “5-cm-Precision Aircraft Ocean Altimetry Using GPS Reflections”, Geophys. Res. Lett, May 2002.
  13. Lowe, S., J.L. LaBrecque, C. Zuffada, L.J. Romans, L.E. Young and G.A. Hajj, First spaceborne observation of an earth-reflected GPS signal, Radio Science, Feb. 2002.
  14. Lowe, S., P. M. Kroger, G. W. Franklin, J. L. LaBrecque, J. Lerma, M. F. Lough, M. R. Marcin, D. J.  Spitzmesser, L.E. Young, A delay/Doppler-mapping receiver system for GPS-reflection remote sensing, IEEE Trans. on Geosci. and Remote Sensing, May 2002.
  15. Treuhaft, R., S.T. Lowe, C. Zuffada, and Y. Chao: “2-Cm GPS Altimetry Over Crater Lake,” Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 23, p. 4343-4346, Dec. 2001.
  16. Lowe, S., "Voltage Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) Nonlinearity Resulting From Incoherent Summations," TMO PR 42-137, January-March 1999, pp. 1
  17. Lowe, S, “Softc: A Software VLBI Correlator,” JPL Publication, 104 pages, JPL Internal Pub.
  18. Treuhaft, R., S. Lowe, M. Bester, W.C. Danchi, C.H. Townes, “Vertical Scales of Turbulence at the Mount Wilson Observatory,” Ap.J, 453 (1) p 522, Nov. 1995.
  19. Treuhaft, R., and S. Lowe, "A Nanoradian Differential VLBI Tracking Demonstration," TDA PR 42-109, January-March 1992, pp. 40-55, May 15, 1992.
  20. Lowe, S. “Theory of Post-Block II VLBI Observable Extraction,” JPL Publication 92-7, 122 pages, July 1992.
  21. Treuhaft, R. and S. Lowe, “A Measurement of Planetary Relativistic Deflection,” AJ, Vol. 102 (5), p 1879-78, Nov 1991.