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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Phased Array-Fed Reflector (PAFR) Antenna Architectures for Space-Based Sensors

Communication link and target ranges for satellite communications (SATCOM) and space-based sensors (e.g. radars) vary from approximately 1000 km (for LEO satellites) to 35,800 km (for GEO satellites). At these long ranges, large antenna gains are required and legacy payloads have usually employed large reflectors with single beams that are either fixed or mechanically steered. For many applications, there are inherent limitations that are associated with the use of these legacy antennas/payloads. Hybrid antenna designs using Phased Array Fed Reflectors (PAFRs) provide a compromise between reflectors and Direct Radiating phased Arrays (DRAs). PAFRs provide many of the performance benefits of DRAs while utilizing much smaller, lower cost (feed) arrays. The primary limitation associated with hybrid PAFR architectures is electronic scan range; approximately +/-5 to +/- 10 degrees is typical, but this range depends on many factors. For LEO applications, the earth FOV is approximately +/-55 degrees which is well beyond the range of electronic scanning for PAFRs. However, for some LEO missions, limited scanning is sufficient or the CONOPS and space vehicle designs can be developed to incorporate a combination mechanical slewing and electronic scanning. In this paper, we review, compare and contrast various PAFR architectures with a focus on their general applicability to space missions. We compare the RF performance of various PAFR architectures and describe key hardware design and implementation trades. Space-based PAFR designs are highly multi-disciplinary and we briefly address key hardware engineering design areas. Finally, we briefly describe two PAFR antenna architectures that have been developed at Northrop Grumman.

antenna↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hoop/column and tetrahedral truss electromagnetic tests

The distortion of antennas was measured with a metric camera system at discrete target locations on the surface. Given are surface distortion for hoop column reflector antennas, for tetrahedral truss reflector antennas, and distortion contours for the tetrahedral truss reflector. Radiation patterns at 2.27-GHz, 4.26-GHz, 7.73-GHz and 11.6-GHz are given for the hoop column antenna. Also given are radiation patterns at 4.26-GHz and 7.73-GHz for the tetrahedral truss antenna.

Bailey, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Detection of reflector surface from near field phase measurements

The deviation of a reflector antenna surface from a perfect parabolic shape causes degradation of the performance of the antenna. The problem of determining the shape of the reflector surface in a reflector antenna using near field phase measurements is not a new one. A recent issue of the IEEE tansactions on Antennas and Propagation (June 1988) contained numerous descriptions of the use of these measurements: holographic reconstruction or inverse Fourier transform. Holographic reconstruction makes use of measurement of the far field of the reflector and then applies the Fourier transform relationship between the far field and the current distribution on the reflector surface. Inverse Fourier transformation uses the phase measurements to determine the far field pattern using the method of Kerns. After the far field pattern is established, an inverse Fourier transform is used to determine the phases in a plane between the reflector surface and the plane in which the near field measurements were taken. These calculations are time consuming since they involve a relatively large number of operations. A much faster method can be used to determine the position of the reflector. This method makes use of simple geometric optics to determine the path length of the ray from the feed to the reflector and from the reflector to the measurement point. For small physical objects and low frequencies, diffraction effects have a major effect on the error, and the algorithm provides incorrect results. It is believed that the effect is less noticeable for large distortions such as antenna warping, and more noticeable for small, localized distortions such as bumps and depressions such as might be caused by impact damage.

Ida, Nathan↗
NASA NTRS1988

Analytical approximation of a distorted reflector surface defined by a discrete set of points

Reflector antennas on Earth orbiting spacecrafts generally cannot be described analytically. The reflector surface is subjected to a large temperature fluctuation and gradients, and is thus warped from its true geometrical shape. Aside from distortion by thermal stresses, reflector surfaces are often purposely shaped to minimize phase aberrations and scanning losses. To analyze distorted reflector antennas defined by discrete surface points, a numerical technique must be applied to compute an interpolatory surface passing through a grid of discrete points. In this paper, the distorted reflector surface points are approximated by two analytical components: an undistorted surface component and a surface error component. The undistorted surface component is a best fit paraboloid polynomial for the given set of points and the surface error component is a Fourier series expansion of the deviation of the actual surface points, from the best fit paraboloid. By applying the numerical technique to approximate the surface normals of the distorted reflector surface, the induced surface current can be obtained using physical optics technique. These surface currents are integrated to find the far field radiation pattern.

Acosta, Roberto J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Structures for remotely deployable precision antennas

Future space missions such as the Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESGP) will require highly accurate antennas with apertures that cannot be launched fully formed. The operational orbits are often inaccessible to manned flight and will involve expendable launch vehicles such as the Delta or Titan. There is therefore a need for completely deployable antenna reflectors of large size capable of efficiently handling millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation. The parameters for the type of mission are illustrated. The logarithmic plot of frequency versus aperture diameter shows the regions of interest for a large variety of space antenna applications, ranging from a 1500-meter-diameter radio telescope for low frequencies to a 20-meter-diameter infrared telescope. For the ESGP, a major application is the microwave radiometry at high frequencies for atmospheric sounding. Almost all existing large antenna reflectors for space employ a mesh-type reflecting surface. Examples are shown and discussed which deal with the various structural concepts for mesh antennas. Fortunately, those concepts are appropriate for creating the very large apertures required at the lower frequencies for good resolution. The emphasis is on the structural concepts and technologies that are appropriate to fully automated deployment of dish-type antennas with solid reflector surfaces. First the structural requirements are discussed. Existing concepts for fully deployable antennas are then described and assessed relative to the requirements. Finally, several analyses are presented that evaluate the effects of beam steering and segmented reflector design on the accuracy of the antenna.

Hedgepeth, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The electromagnetic environment at S- and Ku-band frequencies for the Space Station Freedom

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the electric field strength around the Space Station Assembly/Contingency Subsystem (ACS) S-band conical horn antenna and the Space-to-Ground Subsystem (SGS) Ku-band 6-ft diameter reflector antenna. The regions in which the electric fields exceed the specified maximum permitted RF exposure of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit electronics equipment and EVA astronaut are identified for the Space Station ACS S-band conical horn antenna and the SGS Ku-band 6-ft diameter reflector antenna, respectively. The scattering effects of a flat metal plate, a representative Space Station structural element, were also examined. It was shown that the reflected waves from the reflecting structure cause both destructive and constructive interference of the electric fields in the intersection region between the incident and reflected waves.

Hwu, Shian U.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Feed System Design Considerations for Large Space Antenna Systems. Part 1: Multiple Apertures with Non-overlapping Feeds

A feed system design for large space antenna systems was considered. A multiple aperture system with nonoverlapping feeds is examined. Circular and quadrant aperture reflector radiation patterns are compared and the effect of adjacent aperture on radiation patterns of multiple aperture reflector antennas is illustrated. The following systems are examined: (1) feed design optimization for a multiple aperture reflector antenna; (2) radiation pattern for two quadrant reflector with optimized feed design; (3) multiple beam concept utliizing apertures and nonoverlapping feeds; (4) beam contours for two quadrant of multiple beam multiple aperture concept; (5) superposition of beams from two quadrants of multiple beam multiple aperture concent; (6)compensation for mislalignment of interleaved beams from two quadrants; and (7) beam quality improvement due to reorienting feed for offset reflector.

Bailey, M. C.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Generalized Optimization of High-Capacity Compressive Imaging Systems

One of the greatest challenges in applying compressive sensing (CS) signal processing techniques to electromagnetic imaging applications is designing a sensing matrix that has good reconstruction capabilities. Compressive reflector antennas (CRAs) are a class of antennas that have been shown to provide enhanced image reconstruction performance over traditional reflector antennas (TRAs) when CS techniques are employed. In this article, we present a unified CRA design method, which considers both the sensing capacity and efficiency of the antenna and can be used for both compressive imaging and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication applications. The unified design method is assessed for a CRA configuration in which dielectric scatterers are added to the surface of a TRA. The design results demonstrate the ability of the unified design method to enhance the CS reconstruction capabilities of the CRA.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1985

Interdisciplinary design analysis of a precision spacecraft antenna

The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) will operate in the 20/30 GHz range (Ka Band), and will include a multi-beam antenna (MBA) capable of 0.3 degree scanning spot beams with very high beam-to-beam isolation. The antenna Radio Frequency (RF) performance requirements lead to stringent requirements on the antenna reflector surface shape. A prediction of RF performance of a potential flight model antenna reflector operating under space environmental conditions is made using a radiant heat input model (TRASYS), a thermal analyzer (SINDA), a structural model (NASTRAN), and RF far field pattern simulation. Interfacing software has been written to pass thermal model temperature results to the structural model, and structural model thermal deformation results to the RF far field pattern simulation. A complete analysis can be performed in a single computer run, and potential changes in design can be quickly and easily evaluated using this interdisciplinary design analysis tool.

Steinbach, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Scattering effects of solar panel on Space Station Space-To-Ground (SGS) antenna performance

The purpose of this study is to characterize the scattering effects of a solar panel on the Space Station Space-to-Ground Subsystem reflector antenna when the antenna is operated in the RF tracking (difference) mode. This analysis is based on a combination of geometrical theory of diffraction and aperture integration techniques. The advantage of this combination method is its capability in predicting reflector antenna patterns not only in the forward region but also in the far-out sidelobes and backlobes. To verify the analytical model, measurements were performed on the Johnson Space Center far-field antenna test facility. Good agreement between computed and measured results was obtained. It was shown from computation and experiment that the solar panel scattering interference causes a shift in null position, a decrease in the depth of the null, as well as a decrease in the gain on the antenna difference mode patterns.

Hwu, Shian U.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Reflector sidelobe degradation due to random surface errors

It is well known that the sidelobe structure of a reflector antenna is highly susceptible to random surface errors, and that in most applications it is not adequate to investigate only the average behavior of the antenna. In this study, an attempt is made to determine the probability distribution of the sidelobe level of a reflector antenna subject to some random surface errors. Specifically, the random pattern function is considered and its sidelobe level studied using the level-upcrossing theory. Both the degradation of the maximum sidelobe and the degradation of the sidelobe region with respect to an International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) sidelobe envelope are obtained. The theoretical results are found in excellent agreement with those obtained by Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, some useful tolerance charts are presented.

Ling, H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Large space antenna communications systems: Integrated Langley Research Center/Jet Propulsion Laboratory development activities. 2: Langley Research Center activities

The electromagnetic analysis activities at the Langley Research Center are resulting in efficient and accurate analytical methods for predicting both far- and near-field radiation characteristics of large offset multiple-beam multiple-aperture mesh reflector antennas. The utilization of aperture integration augmented with Geometrical Theory of Diffraction in analyzing the large reflector antenna system is emphasized.

Cambell, T. G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Improved Optimization Method for Array Feed Calculations

Reflector antenna optimization schemes using array feeds have been used to recover antenna losses resulting from antenna distortions and aberrations and to generate contour coverage patterns.

focal plane array feed antennas gain optimization ↗
NASA NTRS1976

Highly efficient antenna system using a corrugated horn and scanning hyperbolic reflector

In a horn-reflector antenna system for producing a spherical aperture phase front, a corrugated conical horn illuminates a section of a hyperbolic reflector to produce a spherical aperture phase front. This front produces a far field beam with low sidelobes and high beam efficiency. The system is insensitive to frequency and polarization changes, and is also insensitive to orientation about the axis of the conical horn for beam scanning.

Green, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Reduction method for thermal analysis of complex aerospace structures

A reduction method which combines classical Rayleigh-Ritz modal superposition techniques with contemporary finite-element methods is applied to transient nonlinear thermal analysis of aerospace structures. The essence of the method is the use of a few thermal modes from eigenvalue analyses as basis vectors to represent the temperature response in the structure. The method is used to obtain approximate temperature histories for a portion of the Shuttle orbiter wing subject to reentry heating and for a large space antenna reflector subject to heating associated with a low Earth orbit. The reduction method has excellent potential for significant size reduction for radiation-dominated problems such as the antenna reflector. However, for conduction-dominated problems such as the Shuttle wing, especially those with complex spatial and temporal variations in the applied heating, additional work appears necessary to find alternate sources of basis vectors which will permit significant problem size reductions.

Shore, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Integrated millimeter-wave corner-cube antennas

An integrated corner-reflector antennas has been designed, fabricated, and measured at millimeter-wave frequencies. The structure consists of a traveling-wave antenna integrated on a 1.2-micron dielectric membrane, and suspended in a longitudinal cavity etched in a silicon wafer. A novel traveling wave antenna design, the modified-bend antenna, with an antenna length of 1.2 lambda and spacing 0.96 lambda from the apex, results in a wideband input impedance centered at 140 Ohm and low cross-polarization levels. Measurements at 180-270 GHz show a well-defined pattern with low sidelobe levels, and a main-beam efficiency of 93 percent and 83 percent at 180 and 222 GHz, respectively. The monolithic approach allows the integration of a matching network and a Schottky-diode or SIS detector at the base of the antenna to yield a low-noise monolithic millimeter-wave receiver.

Gearhart, Steven S.↗
NASA NTRS2012

SweepSAR: Beam-forming on Receive Using a Reflector-Phased Array Feed Combination for Spaceborne SAR

In this paper, an alternative approach is described that is suited for longer wavelength SARs in particular, employing a large, deployable reflector antenna and a much simpler phased array feed. To illuminate a wide swath, a substantial fraction of the phased array feed is excited on transmit to sub-illuminate the reflector. Shorter transmit pulses are required than for conventional SAR. On receive, a much smaller portion of the phased array feed is used to collect the return echo, so that a greater portion of the reflector antenna area is used. The locus of the portion of the phased array used on receive is adjusted using an analog beam steering network, to 'sweep' the receive beam(s) across the illuminated swath, tracking the return echo. This is similar in some respects to the whiskbroom approach to optical sensors, hence the name: SweepSAR.SweepSAR has advantages over conventional SAR in that it requires less transmit power, and if the receive beam is narrow enough, it is relatively immune to range ambiguities. Compared to direct radiating arrays with digital beam- forming, it is much simpler to implement, uses currently available technologies, is better suited for longer wavelength systems, and does not require extremely high data rates or onboard processing.

synthetic aperture radars (SARs)↗