Active Phased Array Antennas for Data Communications in Science ESA Missions

This paper presents the initial phases of the study of a communication system in Ka band intended for future ESA Deep Space (DS) Science Missions. The paper focuses on the different antenna architectures for the Ka-band system and the initial trade offs between the proposed antenna candidates, addressing the criticalities of the antenna requirements. The study is being currently conducted by Airbus DS Espana (ADSM) with the support of DA Design (Fi) in the frame of an ESA predevelopment project activity to study the TTC active phased array antenna (PAA) subsystem and it is intended to perform antenna studies of the communication system necessary to maintain a complete link between the DS spacecraft and the Earth ground stations.