Integrated Solar-Panel Antenna Array for CubeSats (ISAAC)

Abstract

Integrated Solar-Panel Antenna Array for CubeSats (ISAAC) is a high gain, efficient, lightweight, conformal Xband antenna array that is integrated with solar panels of a CubeSat. The antenna design is modular and independent from the solar cells, and therefore allows off-the-shelf components. In addition, the antenna elements are of low profile and do not require significant surface real estate. ISAAC will suit a multi-unit (≥ 3U) CubeSat that has sufficient area for solar cells (hence the antennas), or a CubeSat with deployed panels. The paper examines three best antenna candidates: loop, cross dipole, and meshed patch. It is found that while all three can provide sufficient phase range for the reflectarray, loop geometry has the best tradeoff between optical transparency and the antenna gain. The paper also presents the element performance for different array periodicity lengths (lattice distance) such as half wavelength and sub-wavelength. The optimal ISAAC design promises more than 94% optical transparency and higher than 22 dB gain. The targeted application of ISAAC is for Near Earth Network (NEN), however, the design can be conveniently scaled to Space Network (SN) and Deep Space Network (DSN) radios