Advanced Space Antenna for GPS

ABSTRACT:Since the first NAVSTAR GPS satellite was launched, GPS has become one of the most important technologies used by modern military and civilian systems. While the legacy GPS constellation continues to provide support for many military applications, there is growing demand to identify and implement systems to enhance the capability of the constellation by ensuring more robust GPS service especially in GPS-denied environments or in regions where service is inconsistent. The next generation of PNT satellite solutions must provide an auxiliary high-gain antenna function for military users in these contested environments. Deployment of this functionality requires demonstration of a space-relevant antenna system capable of providing a steerable high-gain regional military high-gain (RMHG) beam. FIRST RF has developed breakthrough element and feed-network technologies that are applicable to a variety of high-gain antenna topologies which can meet the future needs of this improved GPS function. During Phase II this effort, FIRST RF will optimize, fabricate, and test an electrically-steerable high-gain GPS antenna which will provide up to 14dB of additional gain in the regional beam. In this development, FIRST RF recognizes system integration is a primary challenge and will work with industry and SBIR partners to address integration concerns throughout the program. BENEFIT:The development of electrically steerable high-gain antenna apertures that support either distributed-amplifier or single-amplifier topologies will be an enabling technology for the realization of a regional military high-gain GPS function. The reduced-profile antenna demonstrated by FIRST RF has been shown to be an ideal element for various array topologies (including both direct-radiation and reflector-based architectures). FIRST RFs technologies allow for the array to be deployed from the side of the space vehicle after launch then support an electrically steered beam that can scan across the entire GPS field of view with no moving parts. The maturity of the technologies demonstrated in this proposed antenna system will reduce the risk associated with developing a new payload antenna and decrease the qualification time for the hardware. Furthermore, FIRST RFs technologies have demonstrated the ability to save size, weight, prime power, and cost relative to not only conventional GPS antenna systems, but also other approaches for next-generation applications.