Space
EADS Astrium: Antenna Simulator Interface Unit
Design and build of 2 units to interface with and test the antenna systems on the Skynet 5 military satellites.
These beam-forming arrays were designed and manufactured to verify the performance of the phased array antennas for the Skynet 5a and 5b UK military satellite program being undertaken by EADS Astrium.
The company produced a splitting and combining network in waveguide, taking 4 ports and jointly recombining them into 64 ports. 256 channels therefore run through each ASIU.
Design requirements included:
- all path lengths to be equal at zero phase;
- very low insertion loss and VSWR;
- identical match at each port;
- no crossing waveguides (to ensure that each path was geometrically and electrically identical);
- minimum weight and volume;
- capability of working in thermal vacuum: that is to say, these units were produced to payload specifications in Q-par’s clean rooms.
The numerous challenges were met using a geometric concept solved partly analytically and partly by mathematical manipulation. The assembly included 264 phase shifters and similar numbers of splitters, combiners, bends and twists. The individual components were modelled using CST. To effect the numerous measurements that had to be made across the frequency band, testing was automated. This required computer controlled test system, made in-house by Q-par Angus. The data for each ASIU occupied 250Mb, and each ASIU weighed 0.75 tonnes.
The two ASIU’s were made without prototyping or trial runs, and they both worked first time.
Other Space items that we have consulted/manufactured and designed include :-
Milstar Components, e.g. Polarisers and Filters
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Phase Shifter / Attenuators for ground test systems for Satellites
- Horn Antenna, Polarisers and Hybrid OMT for RHCP/LHCP working
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A Complete feed chain for a 10 m Ground Station
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High Specification Crystal Filters
