Demonstration model of an active SAR subpanel

SPOT-Radar is the project for an X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) reusing the ground segment of SPOT. The subpanel active antenna demonstrator has demonstrated that 768 patches, 100 T/R (transmit/receive) active modules, three power supplies, and six microstrip power dividers can be integrated on a very limited surface (0.57 /spl times/ 0.45 square meters), with a total mass of less than 8 kg. All equipment has been electrically and mechanically designed in connection with launch vibrations, and temperature variations during in-orbit transfer and safe mode.<
>