Description
This study supported the development of a new Ka-Band Integrated Active Feed system allowing to improve the G/T performance of multiple beam systems and to reduce the amount of hardware implemented inside the communication module. An architecture trade-off has been performed taking into account the RF performance improvements together with the optimised operational temperature range for the LNA as well as industrialisation aspects.
The design implements a new approach based on the use of a receive Waveguide Feeding Network (WFN) supporting a ring redundancy, LNA and thermal control. An EM model has been built to validate the RF performance predictions. The selected feed architecture, in addition to improve by more than 1 dB the G/T performance, makes available more space on the earth panel to accommodate down-converters and output redundancy ring. Having the LNA within the feed assembly enables using coaxial cables connexion between the LNA and the down-converters saving mass, cost and AIT time w.r.t a solution implementing waveguides.
The selected Ka-Band Integrated Active Feed configuration brings a major step for future Ka Multibeam missions.
