Wideband Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna Array for Satellite Based Data Relay Systems

Abstract

Satellite based data relay systems are highly needed in Launch Vehicle communication to ensure maximum coverage and visibility. Circularly polarized antennas with high gain, broader beamwidth and wide axial ratio bandwidth are the suitable choice for such application. In this paper a $2\times 2$ array of sequentially fed corner chopped square patch antennas loaded with periodic circular patches as metasurface working in S band is presented. Antenna shows wide axial ratio bandwidth and moderate gain in the designed band. Antenna offers measured 2:1 VSWR bandwidth of 25% and 3dB axial ratio bandwidth of 14%. Antenna array is designed in Left hand circularly polarized configuration with a peak gain of 12dBi and 3dB gain bandwidth of 16%. Antenna has an overall dimension of $154\text{mm}\times 154\text{mm}\times 6.09\text{mm}$.