High-Gain S-band Patch Antenna System for Earth-Observation CubeSat Satellites

Author

Nascetti, Augusto ; Pittella, Erika ; Teofilatto, Paolo ; Pisa, Stefano

Author_Institution

Dept. of Astronaut., Electr. & Energy Eng., Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Rome, Italy

Volume

14

fYear

2015

fDate

2015

Firstpage

434

Lastpage

437

Abstract

A novel S-band circularly polarized patch antenna system suited for earth-observing CubeSats is presented. The antenna consists of four rectangular patches properly excited in order to have the maximum gain in the boresight direction and produce circular polarization. The antenna has a compact size, and its geometry and characteristics are compatible with any CubeSat standard structure. A 57-mm-wide square window allows to accommodate imaging system optics in its center leading to a very compact overall system. A prototype of the designed antenna system has been used to validate simulation results that showed a gain of 7.3 dBi. Experimental measurements confirm that the antenna achieves good impedance match at the desired frequency of 2450 MHz, a directivity of 8.3 dBi, and 60^° 3-dB beamwidth, in good agreement with the simulation results.

Keywords

UHF antennas; antenna radiation patterns; microstrip antennas; optical windows; satellite antennas; CubeSat standard structure; Earth-observation CubeSat satellites; frequency 2450 MHz; gain 7.3 dB; good impedance match; high-gain S-band circularly polarized patch antenna system; imaging system optics; rectangular patches; square window; Antenna measurements; Antenna radiation patterns; Patch antennas; Satellite broadcasting; Satellites; Substrates; CubeSat; S-band; high gain; patch antennas; small satellites;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1536-1225

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LAWP.2014.2366791

Filename

6945340