CubeSat satellite patch antenna designed with 3D printable materials: a numerical analysis

Abstract

The paper presents a compact patch antenna system designed using 3D printable materials and compatible with any CubeSat satellite structure. Small satellites are transforming the space industry, allowing space access with an important cost reduction for satellite industries and a shorter plan development time compared to bulky satellites. Moreover, using additive manufacturing, it is possible to design specific system components, also with a complex geometry of the inner part, without material wasting. Furthermore, a key point of 3D printing is to allow to go from design to construction straight, having an enormous effect on the supply chain. Generally, CubeSats count on Very High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency communication systems for low bit-rate uplink and downlink. Instead, S-band is among the favourite choices for high bit rates since the frequency range 2.40–2.45 GHz is one of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) amateur satellite frequency range. An S-band printed antenna system is designed in the present paper, considering the limitations on size and the weight of CubeSat standard. The antenna system is simulated with an electromagnetic CAD, using the polylactic acid as substrate, or polylactide, a thermoplastic polyester widely used in 3D printing.