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3D Printed Antenna for a Balloon Test FlightThe 3D Printing Electronics group flew a printed antenna on the Salter Balloon Test Flight mission in August 2024 from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. A TDRSS antenna (2.1 – 2.3 GHz) was quickly designed, printed and iterated using the 3D Printing Electronics Lab facility. Antenna performance was tailored to precise frequency and gain requirements prior to launch. The final design underwent anechoic chamber testing at GSFC before undergoing ground to satellite testing at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas. The printed antenna was tested alongside traditional TDRSS antennas utilized for scientific balloon missions and outperformed the heritage antenna design used by the Balloon Program Office. These balloon missions typically use 10 or more TDRSS antennas as well as antennas in other frequency ranges with various RF circuitry components. The printed antenna flew in open air on the balloon’s gondola, serving as a demonstration of how 3D printed electronics withstand atmospheric conditions experienced by scientific balloon payloads.
Document ID
20250003783
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Margaret H Samuels
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, United States)
Date Acquired
April 15, 2025
Publication Date
April 30, 2025
Publication Information
Publisher: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
URL: mediastream.ndc.nasa.gov
Subject Category
Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Meeting Information
Meeting: GSFC Engineering Colloquium
Location: Greenbelt, MD
Country: US
Start Date: March 4, 2025
Sponsors: Goddard Space Flight Center
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 981698.01.02.51.08.10.05
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
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