Title: In-orbit test and error analysis of shaped-reflector antenna pattern via satellite's attitude offset

Authors: Yuan-zhi He; Shu-yi Yin; Jing-chao Wang

Addresses: Institute of China Electronic Equipment System Engineering Company, Beijing, China ' Institute of China Electronic Equipment System Engineering Company, Beijing, China ' Institute of China Electronic Equipment System Engineering Company, Beijing, China

Abstract: In order to accurately test the satellite's shaped-reflector antenna pattern and efficiency in orbit, an in-orbit test method of the antenna pattern via satellite's attitude offset and the shaped beam forming principle is proposed. Key points of the method testing the antenna patterns are the edge of roll-off, side-lobe suppression, weighted region and level fluctuation performances, etc. By discussing the relationship between the satellite's offset angle and the test point's longitude and latitude, the proposed method employs the error analysis and testing data correction which combined with the compact test range data. Test results show that the radiation performance of satellite's antenna is stable.

Keywords: reflector antennas; shaped beam forming; array-fed; in-orbit testing; error analysis; antenna patterns; satellite attitude; satellite offset angle; radiation performance; satellites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCNDS.2014.064644

International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems, 2014 Vol.13 No.3/4, pp.354 - 379

Received: 08 Aug 2013
Accepted: 18 Apr 2014
Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article