SOLID UNDER-CONSTRAINED MULTI-FREQUENCY (SUM) DEPLOYABLE ANTENNA

To enhance predictive weather modelling, small satellite constellations equipped with multi-frequency deployable antennas (ranging from 10 GHz to 600 GHz) become imperative. Existing single-satellite methodologies fail to capture the complete lifecycle of storms, which is crucial for monitoring key observables assessed by atmospheric radars, microwave sounders, and differential absorption radars. A novel deployable antenna is essential to effectively monitor these phenomena with a satellite constellation, as current small satellite deployable antennas are limited to frequencies below 70 GHz. The Solid Under-Constrained Multi-Frequency (SUM) Deployable Antenna, supported by the innovative Starburst deployable architecture, presents a cost-effective solution for high-frequency, wide-bandwidth, offset-fed deployable reflectors, thereby opening new avenues in Earth Science applications. The concept discussed here is a 2-meter deployable antenna, with a deployed surface accuracy of 60 microns, to operate from 2 GHz to up to 240 GHz.

为提升天气预测建模能力，配备多频可展开天线（频率范围10 GHz至600 GHz）的小型卫星星座变得至关重要。现有单卫星方法无法捕捉风暴的完整生命周期——这对于监测由大气雷达、微波探测仪和差分吸收雷达评估的关键观测对象至关重要。新型可展开天线对于利用卫星星座有效监测此类现象至关重要，因为当前小型卫星可展开天线的频率限制在70 GHz以下。基于创新型Starburst可展开架构的固体欠约束多频（SUM）可展开天线，为高频、宽带宽、偏馈可展开反射器提供了高性价比解决方案，从而为地球科学应用开辟了新途径。本文所讨论的概念是一款2米可展开天线，其展开表面精度达60微米，工作频率范围为2 GHz至240 GHz。