Work

Design, Development, and Qualification of a Broadband Compact S-Band Antenna for a CubeSat Constellation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: An S-band antenna has been designed, developed, measured, space-qualified, and integrated into the INTA ANSER satellite constellation and the future ANSER-AT mission. This antenna will be part of the space-to-ground communication link for the constellation, which consists of one Leader and two Followers. The novel antenna, mounted on the Leader, has been designed and manufactured with materials and processes specifically tested for space. It features dual circular polarization over a wide band without requiring a phase-shifting network, making it very compact and straightforward. Additionally, its gain patterns are highly stable within the desired band, improving its link capacity compared to the UHF monopole alternative used in the previous Leader. Currently, the antenna has been qualified and installed on INTA's Leader-S, set to launch in January 2025, as well as on the future ANSER-AT mission.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s25041237

Authors: Saray Sánchez-Sevilleja, David Poyatos, José Luis Masa-Campos, Víctor Miguel Aragón, José Antonio Rodríguez, Amaia Santiago

Institutions: Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Language: English

Topic: Antenna Design and Analysis

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Agencia Estatal de Investigación