Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed

Jenna L. Kloosterman; Athan J. Walker; Brandon J. Swift; Terrance Pat; Juan Carlos Lopez-Tonazzi; Christopher K. Walker

doi:10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968

Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed

Jenna L. Kloosterman, Athan J. Walker, Brandon J. Swift, Terrance Pat, Juan Carlos Lopez-Tonazzi, Christopher K. Walker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We demonstrate a prototype cross-linked small-sat communication system at 4 GHz. A single prototype satellite consists of a reflecting spherical surface and transceiver system. The spherical antenna is built from a Zorb balloon in which a metal adhesive vinyl is applied to create a reflecting antenna along with two oppositely polarized linear grids for communication cross-linking. The transceiver system uses a phased array line feed that corrects the focus of the spherical antenna and provides electronic steerability. The electronics including the transceivers and phase shifters are contained in a box approximately the size of a 2U form factor making this design suitable for deployment in a CubeSat. We present s-parameter measurements from the phased array line feeds and using a second prototype we demonstrate cross-linked communications through measured line spectra at 4 GHz. This design is easily scalable to higher frequencies for large bandwidth communications.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728130491
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968
State	Published - Oct 2019
Event	2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019 - Waltham, United States Duration: Oct 15 2019 → Oct 18 2019

Publication series

Name	IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology
Volume	2019-October

Conference

Conference	2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Waltham
Period	10/15/19 → 10/18/19

Keywords

CubeSats
communications satellites
phased arrays
spherical antennas

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968

Cite this

Kloosterman, J. L., Walker, A. J., Swift, B. J., Pat, T., Lopez-Tonazzi, J. C., & Walker, C. K. (2019). Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed. In 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019 Article 9020968 (IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology; Vol. 2019-October). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968

Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed. / Kloosterman, Jenna L.; Walker, Athan J.; Swift, Brandon J. et al.
2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. 9020968 (IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology; Vol. 2019-October).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Kloosterman, JL, Walker, AJ, Swift, BJ, Pat, T, Lopez-Tonazzi, JC & Walker, CK 2019, Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed. in 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019., 9020968, IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, vol. 2019-October, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019, Waltham, United States, 10/15/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968

Kloosterman JL, Walker AJ, Swift BJ, Pat T, Lopez-Tonazzi JC, Walker CK. Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed. In 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. 9020968. (IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology). doi: 10.1109/PAST43306.2019.9020968

Kloosterman, Jenna L. ; Walker, Athan J. ; Swift, Brandon J. et al. / Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed. 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, PAST 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. (IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology).

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title = "Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed",

abstract = "We demonstrate a prototype cross-linked small-sat communication system at 4 GHz. A single prototype satellite consists of a reflecting spherical surface and transceiver system. The spherical antenna is built from a Zorb balloon in which a metal adhesive vinyl is applied to create a reflecting antenna along with two oppositely polarized linear grids for communication cross-linking. The transceiver system uses a phased array line feed that corrects the focus of the spherical antenna and provides electronic steerability. The electronics including the transceivers and phase shifters are contained in a box approximately the size of a 2U form factor making this design suitable for deployment in a CubeSat. We present s-parameter measurements from the phased array line feeds and using a second prototype we demonstrate cross-linked communications through measured line spectra at 4 GHz. This design is easily scalable to higher frequencies for large bandwidth communications.",

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N2 - We demonstrate a prototype cross-linked small-sat communication system at 4 GHz. A single prototype satellite consists of a reflecting spherical surface and transceiver system. The spherical antenna is built from a Zorb balloon in which a metal adhesive vinyl is applied to create a reflecting antenna along with two oppositely polarized linear grids for communication cross-linking. The transceiver system uses a phased array line feed that corrects the focus of the spherical antenna and provides electronic steerability. The electronics including the transceivers and phase shifters are contained in a box approximately the size of a 2U form factor making this design suitable for deployment in a CubeSat. We present s-parameter measurements from the phased array line feeds and using a second prototype we demonstrate cross-linked communications through measured line spectra at 4 GHz. This design is easily scalable to higher frequencies for large bandwidth communications.

AB - We demonstrate a prototype cross-linked small-sat communication system at 4 GHz. A single prototype satellite consists of a reflecting spherical surface and transceiver system. The spherical antenna is built from a Zorb balloon in which a metal adhesive vinyl is applied to create a reflecting antenna along with two oppositely polarized linear grids for communication cross-linking. The transceiver system uses a phased array line feed that corrects the focus of the spherical antenna and provides electronic steerability. The electronics including the transceivers and phase shifters are contained in a box approximately the size of a 2U form factor making this design suitable for deployment in a CubeSat. We present s-parameter measurements from the phased array line feeds and using a second prototype we demonstrate cross-linked communications through measured line spectra at 4 GHz. This design is easily scalable to higher frequencies for large bandwidth communications.

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Cross-Linked Small-Sat Communication System using a Spherical Phased Array Line Feed

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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