Session
Technical Session IX: Ground Systems
Abstract
A very unique and efficient pedestal design, that has been optimized for tracking LEO satellites on frequencies up to and including Ka-band, is presented. It has a novel three axis geometry that not only provides for full hemispherical coverage but also assures that during tracking, the system never comes closer than 45 degrees to a keyhole. This results in the lowest possible axis speeds and accelerations while enabling the system to track the satellite very accurately. With the trending of the space industry towards big constellations of LEO satellites that produce huge amounts of data, Ka-band is gaining momentum. To serve large constellations of satellites we need significant contact time which translates into a large network of antennas distributed globally. Add to this requirement toe low power capabilities of small satellites and we end up with the demand for large dish diameters to provide an adequate link budget. With traditional pedestal geometries, the cost of a system to meet the demands for LEO Ka-band tracking with large dish diameters becomes prohibitively expensive. So one of the main goals, while designing the antenna system around our novel pedestal, was a minimum lifecycle cost.
A Novel Pedestal Geometry - Optimized for Large Diameter Ka-Band Antennas
A very unique and efficient pedestal design, that has been optimized for tracking LEO satellites on frequencies up to and including Ka-band, is presented. It has a novel three axis geometry that not only provides for full hemispherical coverage but also assures that during tracking, the system never comes closer than 45 degrees to a keyhole. This results in the lowest possible axis speeds and accelerations while enabling the system to track the satellite very accurately. With the trending of the space industry towards big constellations of LEO satellites that produce huge amounts of data, Ka-band is gaining momentum. To serve large constellations of satellites we need significant contact time which translates into a large network of antennas distributed globally. Add to this requirement toe low power capabilities of small satellites and we end up with the demand for large dish diameters to provide an adequate link budget. With traditional pedestal geometries, the cost of a system to meet the demands for LEO Ka-band tracking with large dish diameters becomes prohibitively expensive. So one of the main goals, while designing the antenna system around our novel pedestal, was a minimum lifecycle cost.
