A study on a satellite antenna pointing measurement system

Japanese multibeam communication will be realized with the launch of the Engineering Test Satellite VI (ETS-VI) in the summer of 1994. This satellite has two Ka-band multibeam antennas, 2.5 and 3.5 meter diameter, for uplink and downlink, respectively. To guarantee communication performance, beam pointing must be held to an accuracy of 0.015 deg. Both antenna will be equipped with antenna pointing control systems (APS) to meet this requirement, in addition to a conventional satellite attitude control system. NTT plans to conduct a field experiment on antenna pointing performance after the satellite achieves stationary orbit. This paper describes the APSs and estimates antenna pointing performance. The ground system needed for this is explained and the estimated accuracy of estimated antenna pointing by this ground system is presented.<>