Radio frequency compatibility design and testing on the polar platform spacecraft

This paper is based upon the radio frequency compatibility (RFC) design and test activities of the ESA funded polar platform (PPF) ENVISAT-1 programme and provides an overview of the system level design and test activities. The software and hardware tools used are addressed. All these tools were specifically developed and procured for PPF and include an antenna coupling factor and system level low gain antenna programme, a full scale RF mock-up and a radio frequency interference analysis programme. The requirements of a dedicated PPF system level anechoic test chamber are described, particularly with respect to design verification. System level RFC test requirements, philosophy and implementation details are reviewed with regard to design verification. Details of critical ground support test equipment such as low noise amplifiers used for margin measurements, the Data Relay Satellite (DRS) Ka band tracking antenna zero-g support rig and the dedicated anechoic test facility are described