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A compact tri-band omnidirectional antenna design for CubeSat applications
Rao Shahid Aziz1, Slawomir Koziel2,3, Anna Pietrenko-Dabrowska3
1Department of Engineering, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland. raos@ru.is.
Scientific Reports
|April 8, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a compact, enclosed tri-band antenna for CubeSats, operating across UHF, L, and S-bands. Its design ensures robust, omnidirectional communication, ideal for small satellite missions.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electromagnetics
Background:
- CubeSats require compact, efficient antennas for reliable communication.
- Conventional CubeSat antennas often necessitate external deployment, posing integration and mechanical challenges.
- Multi-band operation is crucial for versatile CubeSat communication systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and validate a compact, tri-band omnidirectional antenna for CubeSat applications.
- To achieve stable multi-band resonance and enhanced impedance matching within a small footprint.
- To provide a fully enclosed antenna solution for improved mechanical robustness and ease of integration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a defected ground structure (DGS) and metallic vias for antenna design.
- Simulated antenna performance across UHF, L-band, and S-band frequencies.
- Fabricated and experimentally validated the antenna's impedance matching, radiation patterns, and efficiency.
Main Results:
- Achieved a compact antenna footprint (0.26λ × 0.26λ × 0.013λ) suitable for a 1U CubeSat.
- Demonstrated stable multi-band resonance at 0.755 GHz (UHF), 1.25 GHz (L-band), and 2.28-3.74 GHz (S-band).
- Measured radiation efficiency exceeded 90% with omnidirectional patterns across all operating bands.
Conclusions:
- The proposed enclosed tri-band antenna offers a robust and efficient solution for CubeSat communication.
- The DGS and metallic vias effectively enhance performance and enable miniaturization.
- This design is well-suited for next-generation CubeSat missions requiring reliable, multi-band, omnidirectional communication.
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