Session
Weekend Session 3: Science/Mission Payloads - Research & Academia I
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper describes our developments of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) antennas for low-cost, wide swath and high ground resolution (0.5-0.25m). The antennas are 1D deployable, plane slot array antennas with a wide elevation beam pattern. RF is fed to each panel with a novel patented technology, non-contact waveguide system between panels. These types of SAR antennas make feasible a newly proposed DiskSat with SAR sensor system. The SAR antenna 600MHz bandwidth in X band for 0.5m SAR resolution is made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for light weight and thermal stability. Furthermore, range resolution improves with wider frequency bandwidth. Our novel technology, corporate feed slot array antenna is applied to the SAR antenna in X band with 1200MHz bandwidth aiming at 0.25m range resolution. Also, for a higher azimuth resolution, a sliding-spotlight SAR observation mode is effective. Then a wide area (20kmx20km) SAR observation with high resolution (0.25m) is briefly discussed.
Low Cost SAR Antenna with Wide Swath and High Ground Resolution
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper describes our developments of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) antennas for low-cost, wide swath and high ground resolution (0.5-0.25m). The antennas are 1D deployable, plane slot array antennas with a wide elevation beam pattern. RF is fed to each panel with a novel patented technology, non-contact waveguide system between panels. These types of SAR antennas make feasible a newly proposed DiskSat with SAR sensor system. The SAR antenna 600MHz bandwidth in X band for 0.5m SAR resolution is made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for light weight and thermal stability. Furthermore, range resolution improves with wider frequency bandwidth. Our novel technology, corporate feed slot array antenna is applied to the SAR antenna in X band with 1200MHz bandwidth aiming at 0.25m range resolution. Also, for a higher azimuth resolution, a sliding-spotlight SAR observation mode is effective. Then a wide area (20kmx20km) SAR observation with high resolution (0.25m) is briefly discussed.
