Compact S-band and X-band antennas for CubeSats
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Compact S‑band and X‑band antennas for CubeSats Benedikt Byrne1,2 · Nicolas Capet1 · Maxime Romier1 Received: 27 August 2019 / Revised: 3 June 2020 / Accepted: 4 June 2020 © CEAS 2020
Abstract This paper presents compact S-band and X-band antenna products dedicated to CubeSat applications and their radio frequency performances. The S-band antenna covers simultaneously the 2.025–2.110 GHz telecommand and the 2.2–2.29 GHz telemetry band. It has a hemispherical radiation pattern with superior gain and lower axial ratio values at low elevation angles compared to other S-band antennas on the market. On the other side, the X-band antenna is optimized for payload TM at the frequencies 8.025–8.4 GHz. The antenna gain is higher than 10 dBi over ± 10° in all planes and the axial ratio is excellent. Both antennas are smaller than a 1 U surface and have unequalled RF performances. All processes and materials have strong space heritage and benefit from the Cnesadvanced label. These antennas are thus perfectly suited for professional CubeSat missions with high level of performance and reliability. Keywords CubeSats · Compact antennas · S-band · X-band · Telecommand · Telemetry · Metamaterials
1 Introduction The game-changing evolution with the emergence of CubeSats requires smaller payload components, yet, high RF performances, such as high data rates and avoidance of interference [1, 2], have to be maintained. Due to the small size of CubeSat platforms and the frequencies of operation used, the accommodation of antenna equipment is a real challenge. There is thus a need to develop miniature high-performance antennas to maximize the performance of all RF links. In return, it allows CubeSat manufacturers to design space systems with significant advantages for many applications. Indeed, antennas are passive components which can maximize the radiated RF power and at the same time lower the electric consumption of the platform. This can also result in RF subsystems having better performances: higher data rates, better availability, and higher sensitivity for RF instruments. Moreover, antennas are a single point of failure in all RF chains because there is no place to implement redundant antennas on the platform. Such equipment face harsh * Maxime Romier [email protected] 1
ANYWAVES, 2 Esplanade Compans Caffarelli, 31000 Toulouse, France
Present Address: ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
2
environmental constraints, as antennas are placed outside the CubeSat platform: large temperature variations, solar radiations… This can result in electrostatic discharges, especially when CubeSats are placed in polar orbits, as well as in significant RF performance degradation with respect to the temperature changes due to thermo-elastic deformation and material electromagnetic properties modifications. When not properly taken into account, such environmental constraints lead to antenna lifetime degradation and failure which can be temporary or permanent. In such case, the whole space system suffers from
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