DTU-ESA Millimeter-Wave Validation Standard Antenna (mm-VAST) – Detailed Design

This paper describes the structural solution to meet these extremely strict stability requirements and the structural analyses done in order to verify that they can be met. The paper also discusses the challenges of integrating an aluminum feed cluster with high thermal expansion coefficient in a CFRP support frame with very low thermal expansion coefficient. Abstract—A design of a well-characterized, mechanically and thermally stable multi-frequency VAlidation STandard antenna for mm-wave frequencies (mm-VAST) developed in an ESA project is presented. The antenna will facilitate inter-comparison and validation of antenna measurement ranges at K/Ka and Q/V bands in response to on-going deployment of satellite communication services at 20/30 GHz (K/Ka-band) as well as future commercial use of the 40/50 GHz bands (Q/V-band).

Publication: Proc. EuCAP’2015
Place: Lisbon, Portugal, 12-17 April 2015