VAST sets new standard for testing future space communication frequencies

Written by Copernical Team Monday, 21 October 2024 11:27

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Paris, France (SPX) Oct 18, 2024

A new advanced hardware system known as the Sub-Millimetre Wave Validation Standard Antenna, or VAST, will serve as a critical test target for Europe's satellite antenna test facilities. Though not designed for space missions directly, VAST is engineered to validate the measurement of complex radio frequencies used in future space operations. "The VAST is a well-characterised, mechanically

VAST sets new standard for testing future space communication frequencies
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Oct 18, 2024

A new advanced hardware system known as the Sub-Millimetre Wave Validation Standard Antenna, or VAST, will serve as a critical test target for Europe's satellite antenna test facilities. Though not designed for space missions directly, VAST is engineered to validate the measurement of complex radio frequencies used in future space operations.

"The VAST is a well-characterised, mechanically and thermally stable multi-frequency reflector antenna covering six frequency channels: 89 GHz, 118 GHz, 183 GHz, 325 GHz, 664 GHz, and 1.2 THz," said ESA antenna engineer Paul Moseley. These frequencies are vital for the next generation of telecommunications, Earth observation, and science missions, which demand higher frequencies to achieve faster data transfer and enhanced scientific accuracy.

As the space industry moves toward higher frequency bands, accurate measurement of these signals becomes increasingly challenging and costly. The VAST offers a way to ensure that the performance of satellite antennas can be accurately cross-checked across various facilities in Europe. "The antenna will regularly commute between them for cross-checking their measurements," Moseley added.

The latest VAST iteration is designed for higher frequencies compared to previous models. Its compact feedhorns, machined with precision to a fraction of a millimeter, are made of gold-plated copper and iron-nickel alloy Invar, which enhances thermal stability and reduces temperature-related deformation. During testing, the antenna will be cryo-actively cooled for added stability.

VAST is equipped with a battery-powered accelerometer to track any impacts or forces during transit that might disrupt its alignment. "Our aim is that the VAST goes on serving as a common reference point for European test facilities for many years to come," Moseley explained.

The VAST system was developed by a consortium led by EOSOL in Spain, with contributions from Radiometer Physics GmbH, Space Structures GmbH in Germany, and the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. Its development was supported by ESA's Technology Development Element with assistance from the Earth Observation Directorate.