In-Orbit Cosmo-SkyMed antenna pattern estimation by a narrowband sweeper receiver

TL;DR

This paper presents a new method using a Narrowband Sweeper Receiver to improve antenna pattern estimation accuracy for SAR satellites, validated through experiments on the Cosmo-SkyMed satellite.

Contribution

It introduces a novel NSR-based approach for satellite antenna pattern estimation, enhancing accuracy and SNR over traditional methods.

Findings

NSR significantly improves antenna pattern estimation accuracy

Experimental validation on Cosmo-SkyMed satellite confirms performance gains

Method offers a robust framework for satellite calibration

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel method for antenna pattern estimation in satellites equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), utilizing a Narrowband Sweeper Receiver (NSR). By accurately measuring power across individual frequencies within SAR's inherently broadband spectrum, the NSR significantly enhances antenna pattern extraction accuracy. Analytical models and practical experiments conducted using the Cosmo-SkyMed satellite validate the receiver's performance, demonstrating superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to conventional receivers. This research represents a key advancement in SAR technology, offering a robust framework for future satellite calibration and verification methodologies.