Session
Technical Session XIII: Advanced Technologies 2
Abstract
Small satellites require small and lightweight antennas for telemetry and command function as well as for downlinking of data. We have during the last thirty years developed a large suite of wide coverage antennas. The basic radiator designs used are quadrifilar helices, waveguides, horns and patch excited cups (PEC) depending on frequency range, coverage requirements and application. The antenna designs range from L-band up to Ka-band frequencies. Typical coverages for the antennas are from low gain hemispherical, isoflux, fill-in, toroidal to medium gain, global and semiglobal coverage antennas. The paper gives a brief overview of the antenna family and a selection of recently developed and interesting antennas is presented more in detail. L-band antennas have been developed for satellite-born GPS receivers and for earth observation satellite downlinks. Two recently developed GPS antennas are presented together with a complementary LNA. One is a helix antenna, an antenna type of which we have a hughe experience, the other a PEC antenna. Several PEC antennas have been designed through the years. This radiator type can be used either as a complementary fill-in antenna or as a free-standing medium-gain antenna for telemetry and command. Three S-band antenna developments are presented. An X-band helix antenna has been developed for downlinking of data from LEO satellites. This antenna has an isoflux coverage. It is a compact and light-weight design. The X-band helix antenna and some ongoing and future developments are presented.
Presentation Slides
Wide Coverage Antennas
Small satellites require small and lightweight antennas for telemetry and command function as well as for downlinking of data. We have during the last thirty years developed a large suite of wide coverage antennas. The basic radiator designs used are quadrifilar helices, waveguides, horns and patch excited cups (PEC) depending on frequency range, coverage requirements and application. The antenna designs range from L-band up to Ka-band frequencies. Typical coverages for the antennas are from low gain hemispherical, isoflux, fill-in, toroidal to medium gain, global and semiglobal coverage antennas. The paper gives a brief overview of the antenna family and a selection of recently developed and interesting antennas is presented more in detail. L-band antennas have been developed for satellite-born GPS receivers and for earth observation satellite downlinks. Two recently developed GPS antennas are presented together with a complementary LNA. One is a helix antenna, an antenna type of which we have a hughe experience, the other a PEC antenna. Several PEC antennas have been designed through the years. This radiator type can be used either as a complementary fill-in antenna or as a free-standing medium-gain antenna for telemetry and command. Three S-band antenna developments are presented. An X-band helix antenna has been developed for downlinking of data from LEO satellites. This antenna has an isoflux coverage. It is a compact and light-weight design. The X-band helix antenna and some ongoing and future developments are presented.
