A Compact Radio Beacon and Antenna Deployer Design
Indirect HF/VHF Ionospheric Characterisation from a Nanosatellite Platform
A. Battegazzore (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
J.A.M. Vanhamel – Mentor (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
S. Speretta – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
I. Uriol Balbin – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
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Abstract
The ionosphere is a layer of the upper atmosphere characterized by a high density of charged ions. It is often responsible for scattering, reflecting, and overall disrupting radio signals on the HF/VHF bands. Given the high spatial and temporal variability of the ionosphere's composition, ground-based measurement techniques often struggle to meaningfully image its structure. Indirect measurements done by a space-based LEO radio beacon is proposed through the RABSII instrument, scheduled to fly aboard the upcoming TU Delft mission: Delfi-Twin. This work details a novel antenna and deployer design compatible with the host satellite platform and capable of meeting the pre-defined mission science objectives. Numerical simulations are used to investigate the beacon’s RF performance. A departure from conventional resonant antennas allows for a significant reduction in the beacon’s size: from the originally proposed 5-meter dipole down to a 0.75-meter-diameter loop antenna. To meet the tight size requirements, a novel antenna deployment approach is proposed, prototyped, tested, and shown capable of fitting within the 80x40x4mm of available volume aboard Delfi-Twin. Deployment initiation is identified as the most critical design aspect requiring further mechanical testing. The final instrument design balances technical risk between RF performance and mechanical deployment. Besides the instrument itself, the work presented provides insights into often overlooked electrically-short antennas, and how they could be used to reduce the footprint of conventional space telecommunication systems.