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Antenna Technologies for Future NASA Exploration Missions NASA’s plans for the manned exploration of the moon and Mars will rely heavily on the development of a reliable communications infrastructure on the surface and back to Earth. Future missions will thus focus not only on gathering scientific data, but also on the formation of the communications network. In either case, unique requirements become imposed on the antenna technologies necessary to accomplish these tasks. For example, surface activity applications such as robotic rovers, human extravehicular activities (EVA), and probes will require small size, lightweight, low power, multi-functionality, and robustness for the antenna elements being considered. Trunk-line communications to a centralized habitat on the surface and back to Earth (e.g., surface relays, satellites, landers) will necessitate wide-area coverage, high gain, low mass, deployable antennas. Likewise, the plethora of low to high data rate services desired to guarantee the safety and quality of mission data for robotic and human exploration will place additional demands on the technology. Over the past year, NASA Glenn Research Center has been heavily involved in the development of candidate antenna technologies with the potential for meeting these strict requirements. This technology ranges from electrically small antennas to phased array and large inflatable structures. A summary of this overall effort is provided, with particular attention being paid to small antenna designs and applications. A discussion of the Agency-wide activities of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) in forthcoming NASA missions, as they pertain to the communications architecture for the lunar and Martian networks is performed, with an emphasis on the desirable qualities of potential antenna element designs for envisioned communications assets. Identified frequency allocations for the lunar and Martian surfaces, as well as asset-specific data services will be described to develop a foundation for viable antenna technologies which might address these requirements and help guide future technology development decisions.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20060051746 2020-04-24T21:34:05+00:00Z
Ant
enna
Tec
hnol
ogie
s fo
r Fu
ture
NA
SA E
xplo
ratio
n M
issi
ons
Félix
A. M
irand
aN
ASA
Gle
nn R
esea
rch
Cen
ter,
Cle
vela
nd, O
H44
135
Felix
.A.M
irand
a@na
sa.g
ovTe
l: 21
6.43
3.35
00
2006
IEEE
Inte
rnat
iona
l Wor
ksho
p on
Ant
enna
Tech
nolo
gy:
Smal
l Ant
enna
san
dN
ovel
Met
amat
eria
lsW
hite
Pla
ins,
NY
Mar
ch 6
-8, 2
006
Out
line
of P
rese
ntat
ion
•Th
e V
isio
n fo
r Spa
ce E
xplo
ratio
n•
Com
mun
icat
ions
Arc
hite
ctur
e fo
r E
xplo
ratio
n•
Ass
et-S
peci
fic C
omm
unic
atio
ns
Req
uire
men
ts•
Tech
nolo
gy D
evel
opm
ent a
t Gle
nn
Res
earc
h C
ente
r•
Con
clus
ions
Ass
essm
ent o
f Exi
stin
g N
ASA
C
omm
unic
atio
ns C
apab
ility
•Li
mite
d lu
nar c
over
age
•Ex
istin
g E
arth
-bas
ed T
rack
ing
and
Dat
a R
elay
Sat
ellit
e S
yste
m
(TD
RS
S) c
an p
rese
ntly
pro
vide
lim
ited
Low
Ear
th O
rbit
(LE
O)
and
trans
luna
rbac
kup
syst
ems
for c
ritic
al c
omm
unic
atio
ns in
lu
nar v
icin
ity d
ue to
are
a co
vera
ge li
mita
tions
•G
roun
d N
etw
orks
(GN
) can
pro
vide
LE
O a
nd tr
ansl
unar
shor
t pa
ss d
urat
ion
com
mun
icat
ions
•La
rge
aper
ture
Dee
p S
pace
Net
wor
k (D
SN
) ant
enna
s (2
6m,
34m
, 70m
) can
pro
vide
exc
elle
nt h
igh-
rate
cov
erag
e in
luna
r vi
cini
ty•
Lim
ited
Mar
s co
mm
unic
atio
ns d
ata
rate
s an
d nu
mbe
rs o
f co
nnec
tions
•Li
mite
d pr
ecis
ion
Mar
s na
viga
tion
capa
bilit
y
Top
Leve
l Con
cept
ual C
omm
unic
atio
n A
rchi
tect
ure
~203
0
Eart
h Lo
cal N
etw
ork
Mar
tian
Loca
l Net
wor
kLu
nar L
ocal
N
etw
ork
Mar
tian
Trun
kLu
nar
Trun
k
L1/L
2
Indi
vidu
alSp
acec
raft
Con
nect
ions
Luna
r Com
mun
icat
ions
Ass
ets
Luna
r Rec
onna
issa
nce
Orb
iter (
LRO
)
Rob
otic
Lun
ar L
ande
r
UH
F&S-
Ban
dTx
/Rx
to M
oon
125
bps
to 2
56 k
bps
S-B
and
Tx/R
x di
rect
to E
arth
2.18
6 M
bps
QP
SK
Ka-
Ban
dTx
to E
arth
>100
Mbp
s
VHF/
UH
F*Su
rfac
e C
omm
. (D
ata
Rat
es: T
BD
)
S-B
and*
Surf
ace
Com
m.
Tx/R
x re
lay
to E
arth
(Dat
a R
ates
: TB
D)
Ka-
Ban
d*Tx
to E
arth
(Dat
a R
ates
: TB
D)
* Pro
babl
e co
mm
unic
atio
ns fr
eque
ncie
s
Mar
s C
omm
unic
atio
ns A
sset
s
Mar
s R
econ
nais
sanc
e O
rbite
r (M
RO
)
Mar
s G
loba
l Sur
veyo
r (M
GS)
Mar
s O
dyss
ey
Mar
s Ex
pres
s (E
SA)
UH
FTx
/Rx
to M
ars
100
kbps
-1
Mbp
s
X-B
and
Tx/R
x to
Ear
th30
0 kb
ps
Ka-
Ban
dTx
to E
arth
5 M
bps
BP
SK
Arr
ival
Dat
e: M
arch
10,
200
6
UH
FTx
/Rx
to M
ars
128
kbps
X-B
and
Tx/R
x to
Ear
th20
kbp
s
Ka-
Ban
dTx
to E
arth
85 k
bps
(max
)
Arr
ived
Sep
tem
ber 1
2, 1
997
UH
FTx
/Rx
to M
ars
128
kbps
X-B
and
Tx/R
x to
Ear
th12
8 kb
ps
Arr
ived
Oct
ober
24,
200
1
UH
FTx
/Rx
to M
ars
128
kbps
S-B
and
Rx
from
Ear
thup
to 2
kbp
s
X-B
and
Txto
Ear
th23
0 kb
ps
Arr
ived
Dec
embe
r 25,
200
3
Surf
ace
Com
mun
icat
ions
Arc
hite
ctur
e (~
2030
)•
Sur
face
ass
ets
(e.g
., no
des)
co
mm
unic
ate
via
each
oth
er a
nd a
ce
ntra
lized
hub
•S
urfa
ce W
irele
ss L
ocal
Are
a N
etw
ork
(SW
LAN
) inf
rast
ruct
ure
to
conn
ect a
stro
naut
s w
ith ro
vers
, pr
obes
, hab
itat,
and
each
oth
er
•A
d-ho
c pr
oxim
ity n
etw
orki
ng
amon
gst a
sset
s
•A
cces
s po
int (
rela
y) to
wer
s to
ex
tend
com
mun
icat
ion
capa
bilit
ies
rang
e
Surf
ace
Com
mun
icat
ions
Ass
ets
Lim
ited
pow
er/s
pace
ava
ilabi
lity
UH
F/S
-Ban
d su
rface
com
m. f
requ
enci
es
122
kpbs
Bio
med
ical
Mon
itori
ng*
70 k
bps
Bio
med
ical
Con
trol
*
19 M
bps
HD
TV
Vid
eo
6 M
bps
SDT
V V
ideo
< 10
0 kb
psT
T&
C*
8-64
kbp
s/ch
anne
l
(a
t lea
st 4
cha
nnel
s)A
udio
*
Dat
a Se
rvic
es
Ast
rona
ut E
VA S
uit
Rel
iabl
e lin
ks re
quire
low
BE
RA
nten
nas
shou
ld b
e sm
all,
effic
ient
, and
w
ideb
and/
mul
tiban
dto
acc
omm
odat
e de
sire
d fre
quen
cies
and
dat
a se
rvic
es in
a re
stric
ted
spac
e.M
ultib
and
impo
rtant
for S
oftw
are
Def
ined
R
atio
(SD
R) t
o re
duce
siz
e, w
eigh
t, an
d P
ower
(SW
aP)
*Mus
t be
Rel
iabl
eLi
nks
Surf
ace
Com
mun
icat
ions
Ass
ets
•M
obile
Nod
es w
ith d
ata-
inte
nsiv
e m
issi
on re
quire
men
ts
for s
urfa
ce-b
ased
exp
lora
tion.
•C
hara
cter
ized
by
entit
ies
of m
oder
ate
size
and
free
to
mov
e ab
out t
he lu
nar s
urfa
ce (e
.g.,
rove
rs, p
ress
uriz
ed
vehi
cles
, ast
rona
uts,
robo
ts)
•Ti
ghtly
con
stra
ined
by
pow
er, m
ass
and
volu
me.
•Sm
all N
odes
: sup
port
fixed
and
mob
ile n
odes
, and
con
nect
to
the
netw
ork
by w
ired
or w
irele
ss in
terfa
ce.
•Se
nsor
s, s
mal
l pro
bes,
inst
rum
ents
and
sub
syst
ems
of v
ery
smal
l siz
e, li
mite
d po
wer
leve
ls, a
nd s
hort
rang
e (~
10 m
) lo
w d
ata
rate
com
mun
icat
ions
.
Hab
itat
•La
rge,
fixe
d no
des:
Ser
ves
as b
ase
for s
urfa
ce a
ctiv
ities
.•
Cen
traliz
ed H
ub/H
abita
t for
imm
edia
te a
rea
cove
rage
•Tr
ansm
issi
on o
f dat
a to
sur
face
and
spa
ce a
sset
s•
Can
sup
port
larg
er c
omm
unic
atio
n ha
rdw
are
and
high
er d
ata
rate
s ov
er lo
ng d
ista
nces
.
Ant
enna
s sh
ould
be
low
/sel
f-pow
ered
, sm
all,
and
effic
ient
.
Ant
enna
s sh
ould
be
low
/sel
f-pow
ered
, sm
all,
and
effic
ient
, and
co
mpa
tible
with
com
mun
icat
ion
equi
pmen
t tha
t can
pro
vide
hig
h da
ta ra
te c
over
age
at s
hort
rang
es (~
1.5-
3 km
, hor
izon
for t
he m
oon
for E
VA).
Smar
t/rec
onfig
urab
le a
nten
nas,
mul
tibea
man
tenn
as,
light
wei
ght d
eplo
yabl
e an
tenn
as a
re v
iabl
e te
chno
logi
es (1
0-30
K
m)
Spac
e C
omm
unic
atio
ns A
sset
s
Cre
w E
xplo
ratio
n Ve
hicl
e (C
EV)
•R
obot
ic L
unar
Exp
lora
tion
Pro
gram
(R
LEP
)•
Luna
r Rec
onna
issa
nce
Orb
iter (
LRO
) (R
LEP
-1)
•C
rew
Lau
nch
Vehi
cle
(CLV
)•
Cre
w E
xplo
ratio
n V
ehic
le (C
EV
)
Ant
enna
Req
uire
men
ts: C
onfo
rmal
, Rec
onfig
urab
le
or M
ultib
and
ante
nnas
, pha
sed
arra
ys
Sate
llite
Sys
tem
s
•R
elay
sat
ellit
es (a
roun
d th
e m
oon
(e.g
., LR
O a
fter i
ts in
itial
mis
sion
cou
ld b
e el
evat
ed to
ellip
tical
orb
it fo
r rel
ay
purp
oses
); ar
ound
Mar
s; e
tc.)
•R
elay
sat
ellit
es (L
1/L2
) •
The
inte
nded
orb
it w
ill dr
ive
the
type
of
ante
nna
tech
nolo
gy.
In O
rbit:
Gim
bale
d di
sh (s
lew
rate
driv
en),
refle
ctar
rays
, pha
sed
arra
y an
tenn
as,
depl
oyab
le/in
flata
ble
arra
ys
Ant
enna
Tec
hnol
ogy
Sum
mar
y
HF
(OTH
Pr
opag
atio
n)S-
band
X-ba
nd
UH
F/VH
FS-
band
UH
F/VH
FS-
band
UH
F/VH
FS-
band
Pote
ntia
l Fr
eque
ncie
s
•Dep
loya
ble
Ante
nnas
•Mul
ti-di
rect
iona
l cov
erag
e (to
sup
port
mob
ility
)•S
mar
t/rec
onfig
urab
le
Ante
nnas
•Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
•Die
lect
ric R
eson
ator
Ant
enna
s•W
ideb
and
Ant
enna
s
•Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
•Om
ni a
nten
nas
•Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
•Mul
ti-di
rect
iona
l (to
su
ppor
t mob
ility)
•W
eara
ble
Ant
enna
s
•Mul
ti-be
amA
nten
nas
(to s
uppo
rt co
nnec
tivity
to d
iffer
ent
node
s)
Hab
itat/S
urfa
ce
Rel
ays
•Sol
ar C
ell I
nteg
rate
dA
nten
nas
•Ret
rodi
rect
ive
Ante
nna
Prob
es
•Pha
sed
Arra
ys
(pitc
h/ro
ll co
mpe
nsat
ion)
Rov
ers
•Dip
ole/
Mon
opol
e(o
mni
-dire
ctio
nal
cove
rage
)
EVA
Sui
t
Des
irabl
e A
nten
na T
echn
olog
ies
Surf
ace/
Sur
face
C
omm
.
Ant
enna
Tec
hnol
ogy
Sum
mar
y
•Pha
sed
Arra
ys•M
inia
ture
Ant
enna
sU
HF
S-ba
ndR
over
s
UH
F
UH
FS-
band
X-ba
ndK
u/K
a-ba
nd
S-ba
ndX-
band
Ku/
Ka-
band
Pote
ntia
l Fr
eque
ncie
s
•Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
•Sol
ar C
ell I
nteg
rate
dA
nten
nas
•Gim
bale
d D
ish
•Pha
sed
Arra
ys•D
eplo
yabl
e An
tenn
as•M
ulti-
Bea
m a
nten
nas
•Pha
sed
Arra
ys•W
ideb
and/
Mul
tiban
d•C
onfo
rmal
Ant
enna
s
•Pat
ch a
nten
nas
•Ret
rodi
rect
ive
Ant
enna
Prob
es
•Hig
h G
ain
Sate
llite
s
•Fre
quen
cy S
elec
tive
Sur
face
Ant
enna
s C
EV
Des
irabl
e A
nten
na T
echn
olog
ies
Surf
ace/
Orb
it C
omm
.
Larg
e A
pert
ure
Dep
loya
ble
Ant
enna
s(X
-, an
d K
a-B
and:
TR
L 4)
Ben
efits
•R
educ
ed m
ass
(~1
kg/m
2 )•
Low
fabr
icat
ion
cost
s•
Hig
h pa
ckag
ing
effic
ienc
ies
(as
high
as
50:1
)•
Pro
ven
perfo
rman
ce a
t S-B
and
& L
-Ban
d fre
quen
cies
Issu
es•
Stri
ngen
t RM
S s
urfa
ce
accu
racy
requ
irem
ents
at h
igh
frequ
enci
es (i
.e. K
a-B
and)
•D
evel
opm
ent o
f rel
iabl
e de
ploy
men
t mec
hani
sms
•Th
erm
al re
spon
se•
Rig
idiz
atio
n
Pot
entia
l App
licat
ions
•D
eep
spac
e re
lay
stat
ion
conc
ept
•B
acku
p sa
telli
te a
nten
na s
yste
ms
•E
rect
able
sur
face
com
mun
icat
ions
rela
ys
0.3
m P
arab
olic
A
nten
na
2.5
m “
Bea
ch B
all”
Ant
enna
4 x
6 m
off
set p
arab
olic
Larg
e A
pert
ure
Dep
loya
ble
Ant
enna
s(X
-ban
d: T
RL
3)
(1)L
ow c
ost f
abric
atio
n an
d in
flatio
n of
an
annu
lus
ante
nna
(2) O
vera
ll su
rface
acc
urac
y 1
mm
(3) N
eglig
ible
gra
vity
effe
cts
(4) E
limin
atio
n of
larg
e cu
rve
dist
ortio
ns a
cros
s th
e re
flect
or s
urfa
ce (i
.e. H
enck
ycu
rve)
Hyb
rid In
flata
ble
Ant
enna
•C
ombi
nes
tradi
tiona
l fix
ed p
arab
olic
dis
h w
ith
an in
flata
ble
refle
ctor
an
nulu
s•
Red
unda
nt s
yste
m
prev
ents
“all-
or-n
othi
ng”
scen
ario
s•
Bas
ed o
n no
vel s
hape
m
emor
y co
mpo
site
st
ruct
ure
•H
igh
pack
ing
effic
ienc
y
JHU
/AP
L un
der N
AS
A G
rant
S-R
xS-
Rx
S-R
x
Phas
ed A
rray
Ant
enna
s(K
-, an
d K
a-B
and:
TR
L 9)
Ben
efits
•Ele
ctric
ally
Ste
erab
le•C
onfo
rmal
•G
race
ful d
egra
datio
n•M
ulti-
Bea
m•F
ast S
cann
ing/
acqu
isiti
on•S
-, X-
, Ku-
, K-,
and
Ka-
Ban
d
45
67
89
1011
121
107
1 10
6
1 10
5
1 10
4
1 10
30.010.1B
oein
g 91
Ele
men
t Rec
eive
Arr
ay: H
Eb/N
0-d
B
Bit Error Rate
Issu
es•L
ow M
MIC
effi
cien
cy(th
erm
al m
anag
emen
tpr
oble
ms)
•Cos
t per
mod
ule
•FO
V (li
mite
d to
+/-
60°)
6040
200
2040
606050403020100
Theo
ry v
s. E
xper
imen
t 91
Ele
men
t Bo
eign
Azi
mut
h -
Deg
rees
Relative Power - dBPo
tent
ial A
pplic
atio
ns•C
LV, C
EV•R
obot
ic R
over
s•S
atel
lite
Syst
ems
•Sur
face
Com
mun
icat
ions
Gai
n(d
B)
Ferr
oele
ctric
Ref
lect
arra
y
Dire
ct R
adia
ting
MM
IC A
rray
SQR
of N
umbe
r of R
adia
ting
Elem
ents
Expe
cted
Gai
n(d
B)
Ferr
oele
ctric
Ref
lect
arra
y
Dire
ct R
adia
ting
MM
IC A
rray
SQR
of N
umbe
r of R
adia
ting
Elem
ents
Expe
cted
Ferr
oele
ctric
Ref
lect
arra
yD
evel
opm
ent
(K-b
and:
TR
L 3)
Pote
ntia
l App
licat
ions
•Sa
telli
te A
nten
na S
yste
ms
•G
roun
d-ba
sed
Dee
p Sp
ace
Net
wor
k A
rray
Ben
efits
•H
igh
effic
ienc
y•
Zero
man
ifold
loss
•El
ectr
onic
ally
ste
erab
le•
Ligh
twei
ght,
plan
ar
refle
ctor
EIR
P(d
BW
)Po
wer
Con
sum
ed(W
)
0500
1500
2000
Ref
lect
arra
y
MM
IC SQR
of N
umbe
r of R
adia
ting
Elem
ents
EIR
P(d
BW
)Po
wer
Con
sum
ed(W
)
0500
1500
2000
Ref
lect
arra
y
MM
IC SQR
of N
umbe
r of R
adia
ting
Elem
ents
≈28
cm
Act
ive
Dia
met
er
19 G
Hz
615
Ele
men
t Pro
toty
pe
≈28
cm
Act
ive
Dia
met
er
19 G
Hz
615
Ele
men
t Pro
toty
pe
V+ GR
D
V+ GR
D
LE
NS
AR
RA
Y
radi
atin
g si
defe
edsi
dez
optic
al a
xis
FEE
DS
FOC
AL
AR
Cθ
α
Mul
ti-be
am D
iscr
ete
Spa
ce L
ens
Arr
ays
Col
labo
ratio
n w
ith D
r. Z.
Pop
ovic
Uni
vers
ity o
f Col
orad
o, B
ould
er.
•No
man
ifold
loss
es•C
apab
le o
f mul
tiple
bea
ms
•Pse
udo
conf
orm
al
Mul
ti-B
eam
Ant
enna
s(S
-, K
a-ba
nd: T
RL
4)
Pot
entia
l App
licat
ions
•S
mar
t Ant
enna
Sys
tem
s•
Gro
und-
base
d C
omm
unic
atio
ns
(i.e.
, Hab
itat,
Rel
ays)
•S
atel
lite
Con
stel
latio
ns
30
60
90
0
-30
-60
-90
-10
-20
0
θ
30
60
90
0
-30
-60
-90
-10
-20
0
30
60
90
0
-30
-60
-90
-10
-20
0
θfe
ed
radi
ator
s
TDR
SS-C
Ant
enna
Dev
elop
men
t(S
-ban
d: T
RL
4)•
Nex
t gen
erat
ion
TDR
SS
to
impl
emen
t bea
mfo
rmin
gbe
twee
n S-
band
Sin
gle
Acce
ss
and
Mul
tiple
Acc
ess
ante
nnas
•G
RC
resp
onsi
ble
for a
nten
na
elem
ent d
esig
n, c
onst
ruct
ion
and
char
acte
rizat
ion
of
cand
idat
e an
tenn
as fo
r nex
t ge
nera
tion
Mul
tiple
Acc
ess
phas
ed a
rray
Pote
ntia
l App
licat
ions
•S
atel
lite
Ant
enna
Sys
tem
s
Self-
Pow
ered
Ant
enna
s(X
-ban
d: T
RL
3)
•In
tegr
atio
n of
sol
ar c
ell a
nd lo
cal o
scill
ator
w
ith a
nten
na p
rovi
des
self-
pow
erin
g co
mm
unic
atio
ns s
yste
m p
acka
ge
Pot
entia
l App
licat
ions
•D
istri
bute
d se
nsor
s/pr
obes
•R
obot
ic ro
vers
•A
stro
naut
EV
A-4
0
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10-50
-80
-40
040
80
H C
o-po
laris
atio
nE
Co-
pola
risat
ion
H C
ross
-pol
aris
atio
nE
Cro
ss-p
olar
isat
ion
relative gain, dB
angl
e, d
eg
H-fi
eld
8.41
8 G
Hz
1 fe
edba
ckλ
1.2
pF c
apac
itor
Tran
sist
or
Gat
e
Sour
ce
Dra
in
λ/2
reso
nato
r
X-ba
nd In
tegr
ated
ant
enna
/sol
ar c
ell
Loca
l Osc
illat
or
Min
iatu
rized
Rec
onfig
urab
le A
nten
na F
or
Plan
etar
y Su
rfac
e C
omm
unic
atio
nsPr
ogra
m G
oals
Dev
elop
ele
ctri
cally
sm
all
(min
iatu
rize
d)
ante
nnas
w
ith
mod
erat
e ba
ndw
idth
s fo
r pl
anet
ary
surf
ace
com
mun
icat
ions
be
twee
n re
mot
e si
tes
sens
ors
or o
rbite
rs.
The
tech
nolo
gy is
Inte
nded
to
en
able
lo
w-r
isk
sens
ing
and
mon
itori
ng m
issi
ons
in
host
ile
plan
etar
y an
d/or
at
mos
pher
ic e
nvir
onm
ents
.
The
se
ante
nnas
ar
e ne
eded
fo
r Pl
anet
ary
and
Moo
n E
xplo
ratio
n an
d M
onito
ring
M
issi
ons
Beam
form
ed b
y Ra
ndom
ly
Loca
ted
Ant
enna
s/Se
nsor
s
Rand
omly
loca
ted
ante
nnas
/sen
sors
Sens
or W
eb In
terc
onne
ctio
ns
Col
labo
ratio
n w
ith D
r. J
enni
fer
Ber
nhar
d (U
nive
rsity
of
Illin
ois)
Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
(TR
L 2)
Col
labo
ratio
n w
ith D
r. Jo
hn V
olak
is a
nd M
r. Je
ff K
ula
(OS
U)
Arti
ficia
lly m
anuf
actu
rabl
eM
etam
ater
ials
: Mag
netic
P
hoto
nic
Cry
stal
s (M
PC
).
Thes
e M
PC
sex
hibi
t the
fo
llow
ing
prop
ertie
s:
(a) c
onsi
dera
ble
slow
dow
n of
inco
min
g w
ave,
resu
lting
in
froz
en m
ode.
(b) h
uge
ampl
itude
incr
ease
.
(c) m
inim
al re
flect
ion
at th
e fre
e sp
ace
inte
rface
.
(d) l
arge
effe
ctiv
e di
elec
tric
cons
tant
, thu
s en
ablin
g m
inia
turiz
atio
n of
the
embe
dded
ele
men
ts
Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
(S-,
Ku-
/Ka-
band
: TR
L 3)
Ben
efits
•P
rovi
des
optim
al ra
diat
ion
patte
rns
for
surfa
ce-to
-sur
face
and
sur
face
-to-o
rbit
com
mun
icat
ions
at r
elev
ant f
requ
enci
es
with
out s
witc
hes
Pote
ntia
l App
licat
ions
•S
enso
rs/p
robe
s•
Rob
otic
rove
rs•
Astro
naut
EV
A
S-B
and
Ku/
Ka-
Ban
d
Sur
face
-to-S
urfa
ceS
urfa
ce-to
-Orb
it
Fold
ed H
ilber
t Cur
ve
Frac
tal A
nten
na
5 m
m
4.5
mm
5 m
m
Min
iatu
re A
nten
nas
(S-b
and:
TR
L 3)
Ben
efits
•P
erfo
rman
ce c
ompa
rabl
e to
an
S-b
and
dipo
le, b
ut a
t les
s th
an 1
/6 th
e si
ze
Pote
ntia
l App
licat
ions
•S
enso
rs/p
robe
s•
Rob
otic
rove
rs•
Astro
naut
EV
AE-p
lane
Pat
tern
H-p
lane
Pat
tern
Com
pact
Mic
rost
ripM
onop
ole
Ant
enna
12 m
m
12 m
m
11 m
m
NA
SA
see
ks to
dev
elop
tele
met
ry b
ased
impl
anta
ble
sens
ing
syst
ems
to m
onito
r the
ph
ysio
logi
cal p
aram
eter
s of
hum
ans
durin
g sp
ace
fligh
ts
A n
ovel
min
iatu
re in
duct
or a
nd p
ick-
up a
nten
na fo
r con
tact
-less
pow
erin
g an
d R
F te
lem
etry
from
impl
anta
ble
Bio
-ME
MS
sen
sors
has
bee
n de
velo
ped.
RF
Tele
met
ry S
yste
m fo
r an
Impl
anta
ble
Bio
-ME
MS
Sen
sor
(TR
L 3-
4)
Con
tact
-less
pow
erin
g an
d te
lem
etry
con
cept
.
Con
tact
-less
pow
erin
g an
d te
lem
etry
app
licat
ion
in b
iose
nsor
s.
Sche
mat
ic o
f a c
apac
itive
pre
ssur
e se
nsor
.S
chem
atic
of m
inia
ture
spi
ral i
nduc
tor o
n S
OG
/HR
-Siw
afer
and
Pho
tom
icro
grap
h of
in
duct
or/a
nten
na.
Mea
sure
d re
ceiv
ed re
lativ
e si
gnal
stre
ngth
as
a fu
nctio
n of
freq
uenc
y. (a
) Pic
k-up
ante
nna
at a
hei
ght o
f 5 c
m. (
b) P
ick-
up a
nten
na a
t a h
eigh
t of 1
0 cm
.
Rec
onfig
urab
le A
nten
nas
For H
igh
Dat
a R
ate
Mul
ti-be
am C
omm
unic
atio
nPI
: Pr
of.
Jenn
ifer
Ber
hard
, U
. Ill
inoi
s, G
rant
# N
AG3
2555
E E
Targ
et T
echn
olog
y:Re
conf
igur
able
ant
enna
ele
men
ts c
apab
le o
f pr
oduc
ing
mul
tipl
e be
ams,
mul
tipl
e fr
eque
ncie
s, a
nd
arra
y sc
an a
ngle
s fr
om b
road
side
to
hori
zon.
In
tend
ed f
or in
ter-
sate
llite
, sa
telli
te-m
obile
and
sa
telli
te-g
roun
d co
mm
unic
atio
n w
ith
a si
ngle
arr
ay.
Ant
enna
Ele
men
ts:
Spir
al m
icro
stri
ppa
tch
ante
nna
wit
h re
conf
igur
able
sw
itch
ele
men
ts a
ctiv
ated
by
DC
bias
. Br
oads
ide
to
end-
fire
pat
tern
rec
onfi
gura
tion
by
resp
ecti
ve s
wit
ch
acti
vati
on.
Rec
onfig
urab
lean
tenn
a ar
ray
(with
16
shor
ting
wire
sw
itche
s )
-15.
0
90°
60°
30°
0°
-30°
-60°
-90°
-120°
-150°
180°
150°
120°-1
0.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
-15.
0
90°
60°
30°
0°
-30°
-60°
-90°
-120°
-150°
180°
150°
120°
-10.
0-5
.00.
05.
010
.015
.020
.0
Mea
sure
d pa
tter
ns (φ
=0)
from
4x4
arr
ay
in b
road
side
an
d en
d-fi
re
conf
igur
atio
ns
Swit
ch 1
Swit
ch 2
Feed
thr
ough
gro
und
plan
e op
enin
g w
ith
via
from
Re
vers
e si
de 5
0Ωm
icro
stri
plin
e
IC C
ompa
tibl
e Pr
otot
ype
Squa
re E
lem
ent
For
mon
olit
hic
MEM
S in
tegr
ated
fab
rica
tion
-35
0°
90°
180°
270°
-20
-510
-35
0°
90°
180°
270°
-20
-510
-35
0°
90°
180°
270°
-20
-510
-35
0°
90°
180°
270°
-20
-510
θz
yx
φ
Sing
le e
lem
ent
on c
ube
All
4 el
emen
ts
Hum
an/R
over
App
licat
ion
θ
φ
D-R
ATS
Ant
enna
Sur
vey
D-R
ATS
Ant
enna
Sur
vey
The
Des
ert R
esea
rch
And
Tec
hnol
ogy
Stu
dies
(D-R
ATS
) is
an in
form
al p
artn
ersh
ip
of in
divi
dual
team
s fro
m a
cros
s th
e ag
ency
all
wor
king
to s
olve
the
uniq
ue p
robl
ems
rela
ted
to p
lane
tary
sur
face
exp
lora
tion.
GP
S2.
4-G
Hz
Om
ni80
2.11
Ultr
awid
eban
dpa
tch
ante
nna
(Gre
en)
2.4-
GH
z O
mn
802.
11
5.8-
GH
zVi
deo
GP
S
900-
MH
zEm
erge
ncy
Sto
pD
-GP
SBe
acon
Rec
eive
r
SC
OU
T R
over
Ant
enna
Pla
tform
D-R
ATS
Ant
enna
Sur
vey
D-R
ATS
Ant
enna
Sur
vey
VHF
Voi
ceTX
900-
MH
zBa
ckpa
ckTe
lem
etry 2.4-
GH
z80
2.11
2.4-
GH
z80
2.11
GP
S
UH
FV
oice
RX
(Hid
den)
Voi
ce R
epea
ter S
yste
mV
HF
Om
ni A
nten
na (1
)U
HF
Om
ni A
nten
nas
(3)
Spa
cesu
it A
nten
nas
D-R
ATS
Ant
enna
Sur
vey
ReconfigurableTransceiver
SoftwareDefined Radio
Ana
log
HW
Dig
ital H
W
Re-c
on
figu
rable
Soft
ware
Dem
odul
atio
n
Equ
aliz
atio
n
Freq
uenc
yC
onve
rsio
n
Filte
ring
Ant
enna
AG
C
Pow
er A
mp.
LNA
ALC
Filte
ring/
Sel
ectio
n
Freq
uenc
yC
onve
rsio
nA
/DC
onve
rter
D/A
Con
verte
rM
odul
atio
n
Equ
aliz
atio
n
Use
rIn
terfa
ce
Dec
odin
g
Enc
odin
g
Re-c
on
figu
rable
Soft
ware
Freq
uenc
yC
onve
rsio
n
Filte
ring/
Sel
ectio
nAG
C
ALC
Ant
enna
Pow
er A
mp.
LNA
A/D
Con
verte
r
D/A
Con
verte
r
Filte
ring/
Sel
ectio
n
Freq
uenc
yC
onve
rsio
n
Dem
odul
atio
n
Use
rIn
terfa
ce
Dec
odin
g
Equ
aliz
atio
n
Mod
ulat
ion
Enc
odin
g
Equ
aliz
atio
n
Rec
onfig
urab
le tr
ansc
eive
rs a
nd S
oftw
are
Def
ined
Rad
ios
are
the
futu
re o
f tel
ecom
mun
icat
ions
Con
clus
ions
B
y 20
30, 1
Gbp
sde
ep s
pace
dat
a ra
tes
desi
red.
Cho
osin
g th
e pr
oper
ant
enna
tech
nolo
gy fo
r fut
ure
NA
SA e
xplo
ratio
n m
issi
ons
will
rely
on:
dat
a ra
te re
quire
men
ts, a
vaila
ble
freq
uenc
ies,
av
aila
ble
spac
e an
d po
wer
, and
des
ired
asse
t-spe
cific
ser
vice
s.
Like
wis
e, e
ffici
ency
, mas
s, a
nd c
ost w
ill d
rive
deci
sion
s.
Viab
le a
nten
na te
chno
logi
es s
houl
d be
sca
labl
e an
d fle
xibl
e fo
r ev
olvi
ng c
omm
unic
atio
ns a
rchi
tect
ure.
Enab
ling
tech
nolo
gies
incl
ude:
larg
e ap
ertu
re d
eplo
yabl
e/
infla
tabl
e an
tenn
as (r
educ
e sp
ace/
payl
oad
mas
s), m
ultib
eam
ante
nnas
(red
uce
pow
er c
onsu
mpt
ion)
, rec
onfig
urab
le a
nten
nas
(red
uce
spac
e), l
ow lo
ss p
hase
d ar
rays
(con
form
al/g
race
ful
degr
adat
ion)
, and
effi
cien
t min
iatu
re a
nten
nas
(red
uce
spac
e/po
wer
).
Effic
ient
min
iatu
re a
nten
nas
will
pla
y a
criti
calr
ole
in fu
ture
su
rfac
e co
mm
unic
atio
ns a
sset
s (e
.g.,
SDR
radi
os) w
here
ava
ilabl
esp
ace
and
pow
er p
lace
str
inge
nt re
quire
men
ts o
n m
obile
co
mm
unic
atio
ns s
yste
ms
at th
e en
visi
oned
UH
F/VH
F/S-
band
su
rfac
e co
mm
. fre
quen
cies
(i.e
., as
tron
aut s
uits
, pro
bes,
rove
rs)