A microstrip patch-fed short backfire antenna for the tracking and data relay satellite system-continuation (TDRSS-C) multiple access (MA) array

Author

Nessel, James A. ; Kory, Carol L. ; Lambert, Kevin M. ; Acosta, Roberto J. ; Miranda, Félix A.

Author_Institution

NASA Glenn Res. Center, Cleveland, OH

fYear

2006

fDate

9-14 July 2006

Firstpage

521

Lastpage

524

Abstract

A novel microstrip patch-fed short backfire antenna has been presented here for the first time as a candidate antenna element for the next generation TDRSS-C MA array. This design meets nearly all the specifications required for the enhanced MA array antenna element and promises to provide a lightweight low cost alternative over other designs presently being considered (i.e., corrugated horn, helix, waveguide-fed SBA). Simulations performed using IE3D and MWS agree with measured data, thus far, and indicate an 11% 15-dB bandwidth and a maximum directivity of 15.2 dBi. Future work involves further optimization of the radiation characteristics and the construction of the complete short backfire antenna structure to verify simulated results

Keywords

antenna radiation patterns; microstrip antenna arrays; multi-access systems; satellite communication; IE3D; MWS; continuation multiple access array; corrugated horn antenna; enhanced MA array antenna element; helix antenna; microstrip patch-fed short backfire antenna; next generation TDRSS-C MA array; radiation characteristics; tracking and data relay satellite system; waveguide-fed SBA; Antenna arrays; Costs; Helical antennas; Horn antennas; Microstrip antenna arrays; Microstrip antennas; Optical arrays; Performance evaluation; Relays; Satellite antennas;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium 2006, IEEE

Conference_Location

Albuquerque, NM

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0123-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/APS.2006.1710574

Filename

1710574