The design and analysis of a phased array microstrip antenna for a low earth orbit communication satellite
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Authors
Barfield, William Lee
Subjects
Advisors
Adler, Richard W.
Date of Issue
1994-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
A Naval Postgraduate School spacecraft design class proposed a multiple beam, phased array, microstrip antenna as part of the preliminary design of a low earth orbit communication satellite. The antenna must provide coverage over the satellite's entire field of view while both uplink and down- link operate simultaneously on the same 1-band frequency. This thesis assesses the feasibility of the antenna proposed in that preliminary design. Design tradeoffs for a microstrip array constrained by both available surface area and a limited mass budget are examined. Two different substrate materials are considered in terms of weight and performance. Microstrip patch theory is applied to array element design and layout and antenna array theory is applied to determine phase and amplitude coefficients. The focus of the design is on obtaining the desired beam shape and orientation, given antenna size constraints. A corporate feed method is discussed and a general design presented. Antenna performance is predicted through the use of a computer model based on Modal Expansion theory and results are plotted in a series of graphs which demonstrate the limitations of the proposed design
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Electrical Engineering
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
85 p.;28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.