C-Band Microstrip Planar Array for Spaceborne Microwave Remote Sensing

The C-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a payload element for microwave remote sensing satellites requires an antenna with special features such as high gain, a tapered shaped beam and low side-lobes inthe elevation plane and a narrow beamwidth in the azimuth plane. This paper discusses the design of the Microstrip Planar array and technology development of a quarter panel of a six panel configuration measuring 0.8 × 0.42 mts. The development strategy adopted here can be categorized under three areas. 1. The electrical design and computer synthesis of large array with reference to achieving shaped beam and low side lobe levels. 2. Realization of a low loss, high power handling feed structure. 3. Engineering of the overall antenna array to minimize the antenna system weight, support structures and deployment mechanism.