Metasurface Antenna for Cloud-Targeting Radar: W-Band Metasurface Cloud Sensor (MACTRad)

The Metasurface Antenna for Cloud Targeting Radar (MACTRad) component plans to enable the elusive study of time-resolved radar observations of clouds and precipitation. Most W-band (94GHz) spaceflight solutions do not provide the needed swath due to lower integration times resulting in reduced sensitivity. We plan to develop an electronically steered metasurface antenna targeting cloud radar applications that can dynamically track cloud features during a satellite overpass. In addition, V- and W-band radar antennas targeting high resolution suffer from deployment challenges related to array sizes and stringent surface tolerances at short wavelengths. The proposed component will leverage a dual-metasurface reflector architecture harnessing scalable metasurface design methodology to reduce control electronics complexity. Further, its stowable design will be complemented by adaptive beamforming and self-correction of structural irregularities related to deployment. Currently, innovative compactable and steerable antennas are not available at frequencies above Ka band. This limits global coverage and ultimately the statistical relevance of the long-term measured data. Mechanical scanning is discouraged by the high scanning speeds required to achieve sufficient integration time. Moreover, there is mounting interest in platforms that are increasingly of the unmanned vehicle (UAV), smallSat and microSat variety where size, weight, power, and cost (cSWAP) considerations are paramount. High-efficiency W-band antennas can be realized using free space feeds to avoid detrimental feed line losses. Conventional W-band approaches have employed reflectors fed with static feed antennas in a fixed orientation at the focal point, resulting in a geometry unsuitable for stowing. Planar metasurfaces can be designed to be deployable, but flexible steering requires high precision and a large number of control lines, complicating deployment. An electronically steerable metasurface in a reflective antenna architecture can limit the control complexity, avoid feed line losses, and enable adaptive strategies for deployment error correction, all while drastically decreasing cost and development time. In addition to the adaptive W-band system envisioned, this technology would provide valuable swath for V-band pressure radar systems and could even emulate the conical scan. The final deliverable will consist of the combined dual-metasurface reflector antenna, including an electronically steered metasurface feed as well as the metasurface reflector antenna and preliminary design of housing selected based on deployment considerations. Adaptive feed procedures will be developed to optimize steering performance while simultaneously correcting for structural irregularities. All FPGA control components, PWB materials, metals and other ecosystem items would be chosen to have space heritage while also trying to be low-cost and manufacturable. The teams at Duke and Metacept undertaking this effort collectively embody extensive metamaterial expertise, including formative theoretical research, innovative metasurface antenna technologies, and advanced radar systems for applications including science, communications, radar, and security screening. Electronically steered metasurface devices like the proposed structure have been successfully developed within this team from initial concept to functioning prototype. Co-investigators and collaborators at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will provide the required scientific justification guiding the metasurface design. The electronically steerable dual-metasurface reflector antenna and its associated control architecture is TRL 1-2, although the metasurface feed itself may take advantage of existing high-TRL technologies developed by one of the team members for a 77 GHz radar in production for autonomous vehicle applications. We expect the exit TRL of the delivered component to be TRL 4.

Accelerate mission development and reduce risk by developing critical components and subsystems for advanced instruments and observing systems

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