Microstrip patch array antennas for space application

Microstrip patch antenna arrays offer low profile, reliable manufacturing and therefore low cost solutions for certain applications and where array performance could be enhanced by the use of active components. The main thrust in the space industry in the UK is towards producing this antenna type with the required RF performance and its construction from materials which have qualification potential for the space environment. The authors address these two issues and describe the initial RF performance of a 16 element, X-band circularly polarised (CP) microstrip patch array where a novel sequential rotation scheme is used