Measurement campaigns for selection of optimum on-ground performance verification approach for large deployable reflector antenna

This paper describes the measurement campaigns carried out at P-band (435 MHz) for selection of optimum on-ground verification approach for a large deployable reflector antenna (LDA). The feed array of the LDA was measured in several configurations with spherical, cylindrical, and planar near-field techniques at near-field facilities in Denmark and in the Netherlands.

The measured results for the feed array were then used in calculation of the radiation pattern and gain of the entire LDA. The primary goals for the campaigns were to obtain realistic measurement uncertainty estimates and to investigate possible problems related to characterization of the feed array at P-band.

The measurement results obtained in the campaigns are compared and discussed.