Antenna measurements for satellite communications

Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd (MMS) have been involved in testing antennas for space applications for more than 20 years. Over that time the types of testing for environmental and RF qualification have remained much the same, but the levels and accuracy of the tests have increased dramatically. To meet this need, MMS have developed new test facilities to qualify larger and more complex antenna equipment and spacecraft, and have been engaged in a process of continuous improvement of existing facilities to handle increasingly stringent requirements in terms of measurement accuracy. This paper is a survey of current facilities, concentrating on the UK sites of MMS, at Portsmouth and Stevenage.