Electrical Performance Verification Methodology for the P-Band SAR Payload of the Biomass Candidate Mission

In this paper, an electrical performance verification methodology is proposed for the large deployable reflector antenna of the BIOMASS P-band (435 MHz) synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The proposed methodology is based on measurement of the feed characteristics, such as complex pattern and radiation efficiency, and then calculation of the radiation pattern and gain of the entire SAR antenna with appropriate simulation software. The prototype feed was measured in several configurations with spherical, cylindrical, and planar near-field techniques. The measured results for the feed were then used in calculation of the radiation pattern and gain of the entire reflector antenna. Main emphasis of this work was put on assessment of the achievable pattern and gain uncertainty for the entire antenna and its compliance with the SAR requirements.

Publication: ESA Antenna Workshop on Large Deployable Antennas
Place: ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2-3 October 2012