Broadband 8-40 GHz Feed Array for Space Application

The proposed technology has important application for the radiometer and radar instruments considered for the NASA Snow and Cold Land Processes (SCLP) Earth science mission. The baseline SCLP concept uses a combination of SAR and radiometry in several narrowband frequency ranges from X- to Ka-Band (SAR at 9.7 and 17 GHz, radiometry at 19 and 37 GHz). The technology addresses other NASA needs as well. For example, the deep space network (DSN) is migrating to Ka- Band frequencies for improved bandwidth capabilities, but to support the legacy X-band communication infrastructure, dual-band systems such as the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program could benefit from compact, multi-band antenna feeds. NASA�s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) has sponsored an Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) project to advance the development of the Enhanced Wideband Instrument for Snow Measurements (WISM). Enhanced WISM is an airborne multiband radar/radiometer instrument that will provide the baseline data for developing algorithms for the accurate measurement of snow water content from space. The instrument will carry a tri-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) with X-band (9.6 GHz) and 2 Ku-bands (13.6 GHz and 17.2 GHz) and a tri-band radiometer with X-band (10.6 GHz), K-band (18.7 GHz) and Ka-band (36.5 GHz). Integration of all six frequencies into a single wideband antenna requires a complex feed array manufactured using the PolyStrata technology developed under SBIR funding by Nuvotronics. Under the IIP, Nuvotronics will provide a second-generation feed array for the Harris-designed 6x6 element reflector feed antenna. Under this maturation effort, Nuvotronics LLC, in collaboration with Harris Government Communication Systems (Harris GCS), will extend the capabilities of the feed array to support a larger, 10x10 element reflector feed antenna. Going from a 36 element array to a 100 element array will improve RF performance (insertion loss and reflection) across the bands; the larger array will improve the beam efficiency and match of antennas on the ground. These extended capabilities will improve the SWE estimates made by WISM. Under this maturation effort, Nuvotronics LLC, in collaboration with Harris Government Communication Systems (Harris GCS), will extend the capabilities of the feed array to support a larger, 10x10 element reflector feed antenna with improved performance. The larger size of the antenna will decrease the X-band sidelobe levels by 8 dB from the initial X-band feed and decrease the mismatch losses because the current sheet antenna behaves in a more ideal fashion when in a larger array. The radiometer performance at Ka band will be aided by a dedicated waveguide output from the feed array which will reduce loss (3 dB lower loss than the previous reflector feed because the cable loss and external multiplexers are greatly reduced, as outlined in Section 3.2.2). The radiometer performance will also be improved by a dedicated port for injecting noise for calibration. The size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the system will be improved by integrating the X, K and Ku band multiplexer into the feed array. This will require additional dedicated outputs that will be implemented in the base layers of the PolyStrata feed that form the beamformer. The capability to incorporate multiple custom features to fine-tune performance of this WISM PolyStrata feed array will benefit other missions by exercising the flexibility needed to conform to custom requirements. The proposed effort will develop, fabricate, and test an integrated antenna and feed array specifically designed to meet performance requirements of WISM and will deliver two units to Harris Corp. Harris will perform system integration and testing followed by an airborne demonstration. At the end of the proposed effort, the technology will be tested in a functional radar/radiometer instrument airborne campaign in February of 2017 by Harris. By addressing specific requirements and testing on a dedicated airborne flight platform, this technology will be advanced from TRL 5 to TRL 6.

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