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ACTS Multibeam Antenna On-Orbit PerformanceThe Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) launched in September 1993 introduces several new technologies including a multibeam antenna (MBA) operating at Ka-band. The MBA with fixed and rapidly reconfigurable spot beams serves users equipped with small aperture terminals within the coverage area. The antenna produces spot beams with approximately 0.3 degrees beamwidth and gains of approximately 50 dBi. A number of MBA performance evaluations have been performed since the ACTS launch. These evaluations were designed to assess MBA performance (e.g., beam pointing stability, beam shape, gain, etc.) in the space environment. The on-orbit measurements found systematic environmental perturbation to the MBA beam pointing. These perturbations were found to be imposed by satellite attitude control system, antenna and spacecraft mechanical alignments, on-orbit thermal effects, etc. As a result, the footprint coverage of the MBA may not exactly cover the intended service area at all times. This report describes the space environment effects on the ACTS MBA performance as a function of time of the day and time of the year and compensation approaches for these effects.
Document ID
19960052613
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Acosta, R.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Wright, D.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Mitchell, Kenneth
(Martin Marietta Astro Space Princeton, NJ United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Advanced Communication Technology Satellite Results Conference
Volume: Part 1
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Accession Number
96N35707
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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