Multi feed active antenna at Ka-band for satellite communications

This works presents the design, implementation and measurement results of a space qualified multi feed active antenna (MFA) at Ka-band to be launched on the German Heinrich-Hertz-Satellite. The MFA will be used as a receiving antenna for space applications, especially for satellite communications. It consists of an antenna array, pre-selector filter and a low noise amplifier that are embedded in a multilayer PCB taking into account the space environment consideration. This MFA shares the same platform on the satellite with other communication systems. Hence, it fulfills the required gain / attenuation at different frequencies caused by other payloads on the satellite. This made the design quite challenging to be embedded in a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) with high dynamic range (50 dB) of the gain. The measurement results show that the MFA has gain of 29 dBi at the operating frequency and less than −21 dBi at the interfering frequencies.