The Design and Simulation Analysis of K Band Large Reflector Antenna System for Deep Space Exploration

Abstract

Because of the huge distance from earth on deep-space exploration, a high gain antenna on ground is usually required to commute with deep space probes. At first, this paper designs a K-band deep space exploration large Cassegrain reflector antenna system, which includes corrugated horn feed, a sub-reflector of diameter 6.5m and the main reflector of diameter 65m, and then uses electromagnetic simulation software FEKO to make simulation analysis on the antenna system designed. Due to the huge electrical size (physical dimensions and operating wavelength), a two-step simulation method is proposed, which firstly uses the hybrid method of the method of moments and the large non-point source physical optics method to simulate the feed source and sub-reflector, and secondly uses the equivalent source to excite the main reflector and the large non-point source physical optics to simulate the main reflector. Finally, the simulation results are consistent with expectations.