Study on Antenna Pattern Reconstruction Method Using Least Squares Method for SPS Test Satellite

Abstract

  In the pattern measurement of the SPS demonstration satellite in low earth orbit, a two-dimensional pattern is measured using the movement of the satellite by placing multiple receiving stations in a straight line on the ground. The measured patterns are reconstructed using the two-dimensional least-squares method in order to exclude errors in the receiving stations. In order to measure the two-dimensional pattern up to the first sidelobe of the array antenna, we attempted to consider an approximation function, which provides a better least-squares approximation of the pattern of the circular antenna. Also, since the shape of the 2D pattern of the antenna varies with the antenna's external shape, we compared the circular and square array antennas, derived a function suitable for reconstructing the pattern including the sidelobes, showed the dependence of the approximation function and the receiving station configuration, and obtained guidelines for more accurate pattern measurement.