EOSOL Aerospace delivers the Sub Millimeter wave validation standard Antenna (SUB)MM-VAST) to the European Space Agency (ESA)
After more than two years of intense work, this project is coming to a successful end. EOSOL in collaboration with RADIOMETER PHYSICS GmbH, SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH and UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID have developed one of the most advanced validation antennas in the world.
After an extensive verification campaign carried out at ESA's facilities in the Netherlands (ESTEC), where mechanical, thermal and RF tests were performed, the antenna was validated for correct operation.
Final delivery of the antenna was completed in September 2024.
Reference antenna for major measurement laboratories in Europe
The (sub)mmVAST is the reference antenna to be used in the main measurement laboratories in Europe for the characterization of their measurement configurations from 86 GHz to 1.2THz.
With dimensions of 900 x 250 x 400 mm and a mass of almost 50 kg, this antenna is characterized by its high mechanical and thermal stability. Its robustness means that its RF performance remains stable in any antenna orientation, and thanks to the use of materials such as invar and gold, its operation remains stable from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures down to 4 degrees Kelvin. The antenna is based on a dual-reflector Cross Dragone architecture, fed by a horn feed cluster. The antenna also incorporates mirror cubes to facilitate its correct alignment in the measurement setup, and an adaptable support structure for different heads depending on the frequency channel used.
Knowledge of the measurement uncertainty will allow laboratories to quantify possible errors in the measurement process, which could affect the final results. In this way, they will be able to take corrective measures and increase the reliability of future tests, which are increasingly demanding in terms of alignment accuracy, repeatability, etc. This will be key to ensure, for example, the accurate characterization of antennas to be used in future earth observation or space exploration missions.