X-band parallel-plate slot array antenna for SAR sensor onboard 100 kg small satellite

One panel of a deployable parallel plate slot array antenna fed by rectangular waveguide at its lower-edge side has been designed, fabricated and measured. This antenna operates in X-band with right handed circularly polarized radiation. The antenna system is entirely designed using HFSS simulator. From the measurement result, it is shown that at its center frequency (9.65 GHz), 80% aperture efficiency with the directivity of 36.5 dBic and 55% antenna efficiency with the gain of 34.9 dBic are achieved. About 1.6 dB of total antenna loss is confirmed.