An active antenna known as a grid oscillator is presented for use onboard the University of Hawaii’s CubeSat. It operates at high frequencies that will be able to facilitate future, more data-intensive missions. The device uses an efficient power-combining scheme packaged in a compact, low-profile structure that can be mounted on the side of a cube. The active antenna consists of an array of transistors directly embedded into a planar radiating structure. An infinitearray approximation is used to simulate the grid design in CAD programs. Various mounting schematics are presented for the grid oscillator that is currently being fabricated with a desired oscillation frequency of 5.85 GHz
