Experimental measurements and diagnosis of radio-frequency space high power and electromagnetic compatibility effects

Radio-Frequency (RF) Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) effects are becoming a major issue for the aerospace industry, especially due to the ever increasing demand of more communication channels, operating at higher operational frequencies with broader bandwidths, and to stringent requirements in terms of reduced mass, volume and footprint for satellite payload components. Additionally, RF breakdown phenomena (such as Multipactor, Corona and Power Handling), as well as Passive Inter-Modulation (PIM) effects, that can imply malfunctioning of satellite communication equipment and undesired interferences, are a common concern for the satellite industry. In order to mitigate all these undesired effects, or even to prevent them, experimental testing and diagnosis techniques are widely requested. In this contribution, state-of-the-art testing facilities and diagnosis techniques for successfully coping with all these effects will be presented, including the most recent advancements and future guidelines in the area.