Receiving Frequency Diverse Array Antenna for Tracking Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Abstract

The Frequency Diverse Array (FDA) antenna provides range - angle - time dependent beampattern, potentially generating highly directional beams with high gain that may be steered directly and continuously to the desired position. Therefore, a ground receiving antenna system based on the Frequency Diverse Array antenna is presented for tracking and communicating with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. This is required to minimize complexity and cost of the ground station. Furthermore,, to meet the system figure of merit (G/T) requirements; the radiation characteristics, the gain requirements, the array size, the minimum number of elements and their distribution for several FDA array antenna architectures are calculated and analyzed.