Analysis of Fabricability of Flexible Waveguide Parts for Satellite Applications

Satellite onboard equipment includes waveguide transmission lines. One of the tasks to be solved is the temperature decoupling of the waveguide path and onboard equipment devices. In order to prevent waveguide path deformation during expansion/contraction due to thermal effects, the waveguide is equipped with a flexible waveguide section capable of changing the length without deteriorating radio technical characteristics. The paper considers the issues of fabrication of flexible waveguide parts, concerning the requirements for structure, properties, heat treatment of raw materials, dimensions of workpieces, equipment, and tooling. Within the study, we optimized and tested in practice operations of the technological process of extracting parts from sheet material, rolling, profiling, and shaping, which make it possible to manufacture parts of waveguide paths of the required quality.

A Super Wideband Directional Compact Vivaldi Antenna for Lower 5G and Satellite Applications

In this paper, a super wide band (SWB) Vivaldi antenna has been proposed for lower 5G bands in Sub-6 GHz and satellite applications (S, C, X, Ku, and K band) using various performance improvement techniques. In the presented Vivaldi antenna, different slots are applied not only to increase the gain and directivity but also to get operating frequency at the intended specific frequency range. All dimensions of those slots were chosen by using the sweep parameter method. Ten corrugated side slots, two circular slots, and one via have been used to enhance the performance especially bandwidth and gain of the antenna. At the edge of wireless communication, we want to enhance two key aspects within the communication systems: the quality of service and the cost. The proposed antenna incorporates a simple structure and small size with dimensions of 45 × 35 × 0.79 mm3. Thus, after design, optimization, and simulation, the antenna produces a good reflection coefficient over the very large operating bandwidth of 23.19 GHz, 1 < VSWR < 2, maximum gain of 10.2 dBi, and average radiation efficiency of above 90%, which can be recommended as a suitable antenna for lower 5G as well as satellite applications. The antenna is designed, simulated, and analyzed by using computer simulation technology microwave studio (CST-MWS). Finally, the performance of the Vivaldi antenna has been validated by FEKO and HFSS software, and we achieved a very good matching among the results.

Fiber Optic Sensing in Spacecraft Engineering: An Historical Perspective From the European Space Agency

For over two decades the European Space Agency has investigated the possibility of using fiber optic sensors in spacecraft engineering as tools to advance the monitoring and control of spacecraft. The applications have been diverse covering both launcher and satellite applications and encompassing environments from cryogenic to high temperature re-entry applications. The aim of this review is to capture the history and status of fiber optic sensors for space applications demonstrating the breadth of applications that have been studied and the lessons learnt along the way. Finally, it is the intention of this review to look forward, pointing to how this technology can be used in the future and identifying what are the key remaining challenges to its further successful exploitation.

Chemical potential variation effect of new design of graphene antenna for satellite applications

Purpose The present work aims to analyze the performance of a newly designed graphene-based patch antenna by varying the chemical potential in graphene sheet, using the CST Microwave Studio ® software. This study mainly seeks to discuss and assess the advantage of using graphene, instead of copper, as the radiating patch. It should be noted that graphene is a new material that possesses unique properties. Its parameters are optimized for the purpose of introducing it in satellite technology. Design/methodology/approach The use of graphene as a radiating patch of space technology applications, where a polygonal graphene patch antenna element is designed by the CST Microwave Studio ® software with Taconic RF-41 substrate to resonate in the satellite bands. Findings Analysis of a graphene patch sheet by a variation in the chemical potential to ensure operation in a space environment. Originality/value The increase in the chemical potential for a graphene patch antenna has shown a prominent increase in the values of the gain. A new contribution, by the combination of the antenna performance improvement techniques and the use of graphene as a radiating patch of space technology applications.