ON BOARD X-BAND COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ANTENNAS ARRAY FOR REMOTE SENSING

Abstract

Technologies such a direct broadcasting satellite system (DBSS), Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication, remote sensing satellite, global positioning system (GPS), high accuracy airborne navigation system and a Iarge variety of radar systems demand a high Ievel of antenna performance. Similar is the requirement for upcoming land-based wireless systems such as cellular and indoor communication systems that are needed some more specific and additional features added to the antenna to compensate for the deficiencies encountered in system’s performance. Increasing bandwidth of the communication link has been a challenge for CubeSat class satellite. Traditional satellites usually utilize high gain antennas for this purpose, but these antennas are rarely seen in CubeSat because of its power, volume, and weight constraints. To solve these issues, this thesis presents eight antennas designs with single patches and multiple arrays. Single patch designs presented as microstrip Archimedean spiral antennas are appropriate for wideband CubeSat communications due to its light weight and small size. The wideband frequency response of the spiral antennas can be achieved by properly choosing their outer and inner radii. This thesis presents a spiral microstrip antennas designed on FR-4 achieving an ultra-wideband from 6 to 61 GHz covering all working satellite bands and specially X-band. The proposed antenna is characterized by high gain and directive beam with suitable radiations at multiple frequencies.