BASIC ANTENNA

BASIC ANTENNA TYPES

There are mainly four types of
antennas used in satellites
1. Wire antennas: monopoles and
dipoles
2. Horn antennas
3. Reflector antennas
4. Array antennas
 WIRE ANTENNAS
It is primarily used at VHF and UHF to
provide communication for TTC&M
systems.
They are positioned with great care on the
body of the satellite in attempt to provide
omnidirectional coverage.
Most satellites measure only few
wavelength at VHF,which makes it difficult
to get require antenna pattern and there
some change in orientation of satellite in
which sensitivity of TTC&M system is
reduced to null in antenna pattern.
 HORN ANTENNAS
It is used at microwave frequencies
when relatively wide beams are
required as for global coverage.
A horn is a flared section of
waveguide that provides an aperture
several wavelengths wide and a good
match between waveguide
impedance and free space.
Horns are also used as feeds for
reflectors.
 REFLECTOR ANTENNAS
It is usually illuminated by one or
more horns and provide a larger
aperture then can be achieved with a
horn alone.
For max gain, it is necessary to
generate a plane wave in the
aperture of the reflector.
One reflector shape that achieved
this with point source of radiation is
paraboloid,with a feed placed at its
 ARRAY ANTENNAS
It
is a set of multiple antennas which work as
a single antenna to transmit or receive.
The single antenna elements are connected
to single receiver or transmitter by feedlines
that feed the power to the elements in
specific phase relationship.
This can achieve higher gain.
To find aperture antenna gain ,
G=4
If aperture is circular then G=
SATELLITE ANTENNAS IN
PRACTICE
In ideal case, there would be one antenna
beam for each earth station, completely
isolated from all other beams ,for transmit and
receive.
Some of the largest commercial GEO satellites
proposed to date are the Inmarsat I-4 series.
The satellites have 200 spot beams for mobile
services and internet access.
They made 3 Inmarsat satellites and the third
one is a spare.
SATELLITE ANTENNAS IN
PRACTICE
The requirement of narrow beams with high
gain over a small coverage zone leads to
large antenna structure on satellite.
Becoz of the large size of antenna ,they are
folded down during launch phase. Once in
orbit it can be deployed.
The fig shows the INTELSAT VI satellite. For
launch, the solid reflectors fold down and in
orbit the hinged arms are swung out and
locked in place to hold it in correct position.
SATELLITE ANTENNAS IN
PRACTICE
Another type is the inflatable
antenna.
The antennas can be squeezed into
small space for launch and inflated
from a pressurized gas bottle in the
orbit.
The fig shows the deployment
sequence of ATS-6 10-m antenna.