Bistatic radar experiments with the VLA/Goldstone 8.4 GHz system are an unanticipated use of the VLA which have produced a number of exciting results, including: (i) the discovery of ice deposits at the poles of Mercury, (ii) the discovery of the ``Stealth" feature on Mars, which produces no detectable echo, and (iii) the discovery that Titan has no deep global ethane/ methane ocean, contrary to expectations.
New 2.4 GHz receivers would enable bistatic radar experiments to be
done with both Goldstone and the newly upgraded Arecibo transmitter.
JPL is committed to installing a new transmitter on the Goldstone 70 m
antenna, operating at 
33 GHz, in support of the Cassini mission
to Saturn. Hence bistatic radar experiments will be possible in three
frequency bands spanning more than a decade in frequency.
Furthermore, the VLA will be better able to support future planetary
missions if it is equipped for both the 2.4 and 8.4 GHz telemetry
bands.
To maximize support of bistatic radar experiments, the VLA Development Plan must include: