DocumentCode :
1721682
Title :
Ka-band tracking antenna for inter-orbit communications
Author :
Brain, D.J. ; Dang, N.D. ; Davis, I.M. ; Granville-George, D.A.
Author_Institution :
ERA Technol. Ltd., Leatherhead, UK
fYear :
1989
Firstpage :
1606
Abstract :
The European Space Agency´s Inter-Orbit Communication (IOC) experiment provides a two-way intersatellite link at Ka-band between the low-earth-orbiting European Recoverable Carrier (EURECA) and the geostationary OLYMPUS satellite. Because of the resultant constantly changing link geometry the EURECA IOC antenna must not only provide the 20/30 GHz communication links but also include RF tracking capability within tight volumetric and mass constraints. A novel lightweight tracking antenna, which uses electronically generated higher-order (TE/sub 21/) waveguide modes to scan the main beam, was developed for the IOC antenna, based upon a lower-frequency ground station system. This shaped Cassegrain antenna system, incorporating a novel and compact RF sensing system, has been successfully implemented in flight hardware in an extremely short timescale. The resultant system provides not only the requisite 20/30-GHz communications systems but also a rapid, accurate, and reliable RF sensing capability to permit tracking of the link through the constantly changing orbital geometry with an overall system accuracy significantly better than the 0.5 deg requirement.<>
Keywords :
microwave antennas; reflector antennas; satellite antennas; tracking systems; 20 GHz; 30 GHz; ESA; European Space Agency; Ka-band tracking antenna; RF sensing system; RF tracking; SHF; TE/sub 21/ mode; communication links; geostationary OLYMPUS satellite; ground station system; interorbit communications; link geometry; low-earth-orbiting European Recoverable Carrier; orbital geometry; shaped Cassegrain antenna system; system accuracy; tracking antenna; two-way intersatellite link; waveguide modes; Antenna accessories; Antenna feeds; DH-HEMTs; Filters; Radio frequency; Receiving antennas; Signal generators; Space technology; Switches; Switching circuits;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 1989. AP-S. Digest
Conference_Location :
San Jose, CA, USA
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/APS.1989.135033
Filename :
135033
Link To Document :
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