Miniaturization of Microstrip Antennas for Applications in Cubesats
This work proposes a research on miniaturized microstrip patch antennas for applications in Cube Satellite (CubeSat). A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite used primarily by universities for space exploration and research, typically in low Earth orbits. Its size, however, presents a more challenging restriction on the design. Antenna is one of the key components onboard small satellites as its design determines the performance of all the wireless systems including telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), high-speed data downlink, navigation, intersatellite communications, wireless, radars and sensors, etc. For TT&C, deployable wired antennas are often employed at V-UHF band. This incurs a large risk if the release mechanism does not function properly, and it could
compromise the mission. Therefore, a non-deployable miniaturized microstrip patch antenna is desirable. The main objective is the design of novel compact microstrip antena, lightweight and efficient, operating at 435 MHz. An introduction to CubeSat satellites and their structure is presented. This is followed by antennas theory fundamentals. Design concepts on microstrip antenna are presented. A further investigation on miniaturization
techniques, as well as the ground plane effects on the general performance, is also made. The state of the art and some simulations are presented. Finally, the conclusions and next steps of the research are presented.