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Pointing enhancement techniques for deep-space antennas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2010

Piermario Besso ,
Maurizio Bozzi ,
Marco Formaggi  and
Luca Perregrini
Piermario Besso
Affiliation:
European Space Agency (ESA/ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany.
Maurizio Bozzi*
Affiliation:
Department of Electronics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Marco Formaggi
Affiliation:
Department of Electronics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Luca Perregrini
Affiliation:
Department of Electronics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
*
Corresponding author: M. Bozzi Email: maurizio.bozzi@unipv.it
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Abstract

The present paper presents a very efficient technique for enhancing the pointing accuracy in beam-waveguide (BWG) antennas and its application to the deep space antenna DSA2 of the European Space Agency. The proposed technique permits to achieve a twofold result: on the one hand, it provides a solution to the beam aberration issue, arising when the antenna simultaneously receives from and transmits to a spacecraft moving in the transversal direction. On the other hand, it allows to perform a fast conical scan to enhance the pointing accuracy of the antenna. Both results are achieved by simple linear displacements of feeds and mirrors located in the lower part of the BWG, with a very limited deterioration of the antenna gain. The required displacements of feeds and mirrors are determined through a fast optimization algorithm, based on a top-down approach, which requires repeated physical–optics analyses of the lower part of the beam waveguide only, with a significant reduction in the computing time.

Keywords

Beam aberrationBeam waveguidesCassegrain antennasRadio astronomyReflector antennas
Type
Original Article
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 211 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2010

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References

REFERENCES

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