The Deep-Space Network Telecommunication CubeSat Antenna: Using the Deployable Ka-Band Mesh Reflector Antenna
Abstract
In the near future, CubeSats will be deployed beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) to perform scientific tasks in deep space. To do so, these CubeSats will need high-gain antennas (HGAs) that fit in a highly confined volume. In this article, we present an innovative, deployable Ka-band antenna that folds in a 1.5-U $(10\ \times 10\times 15\ \text{cm}^{3})$ stowage volume suitable for 6U $(10\ \times 20\times 30\ \text{cm}^{3})$-class CubeSats. This antenna is designed for telecommunication and is compatible with NASA's deep-space network (DSN) at Ka-band frequencies (i.e., uplink: 34.2-34.7 GHz; downlink: 31.8-32.3 GHz). Calculations and measurements show that 42.0-dBi gain and 57% aperture efficiency are obtained at 32 GHz. We thoroughly describe the mechanical deployment mechanism because it is a critical component of the deployable CubeSat antenna. This challenging new design evolved from our previous design that only provided linear polarization and a single-frequency band.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine
- Pub Date:
- April 2017
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2017IAPM...59...31C
- Keywords:
-
- Feeds;
- Reflector antennas;
- Ribs;
- Gain;
- Low earth orbit satellites;
- Antenna radiation patterns