Exapmple of Development

CASE STUDY

Antennas for Small Satellites

Request by our customer

Development of a small and lightweight medium-gain antenna and a low-elevation-angle directional antenna for use in X-band

Requirements

Background

Medium-gain antennas for high-speed data communications need to have a high gain and broadband characteristics. In addition, low-elevation-angle directional antennas need to have special directivity to simplify satellite attitude control. These antennas must be small and lightweight, and also needs to be able to withstand vibration during rocket launch and the outer space environment (temperature and radiation).

Solutions

The medium-gain antenna is designed to be a 4-element patch array, and small and lightweight. The low-elevation-angle antenna should have a helical antenna structure to reduce zenith gain, and form a beam that peaks at an elevation angle of 30 degrees.

Outcome

We were able to reduce the size of the medium-gain antenna to 70 mm × 10 mm (H), with a mass of approximately 70 grams. The low-elevation-angle directional antenna has been reduced in size and weight to φ70 mm × 35 mm (H) and approximately 150 grams, and a peak gain of approximately 4dBi in the 30-degree elevation angle direction has been achieved.

Comment from our engineer

As the low-elevation-angle directional antennas need to have special electrical characteristics, we used an electromagnetic field simulator for development. We found it very rewarding because we developed antennas to be installed on satellites that will travel into space.