An aircraft based emulation platform and control model for LEO satellite antenna beam steering

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A joint project between the KU Leuven and Stellenbosch Universities was atthe time of this thesis underway to develop a space borne electronically beamsteerable antenna and the associated ground-space segments. This thesis coversthe development of an aircraft based satellite emulator to facilitate convenientaircraft based testing of an antenna array, intended for low earth orbitsatellite deployment and subsystems to control the antenna array. Aflightstrategy is developed to emulate such a satellite pass as best possible, with thestrategy implemented in software on in-flight PC hardware. A full interfacebetween the aircraft avionics and satellite bus system has been developed toenable generation of the required antenna steering commands and to createa satellite bus image to the payload. Successful test results are presented, asobtained from the actual aircraftight simulator. The thesis describes thesuccessful development and testing of a low altitude flight test strategy forcertain satellite borne systems, as a cost-effective and realistic interim step toactual and very expensive spaceflight testing.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University