Author(s)

L. Bierque, G. Coirbay, D. Dungate, H. El Karouni, J. O'KeefFe & S. Luttrell

Abstract

Measurement and prediction of the performance of a satellite based antenna pointing mechanism and controller L. Bierque, G. Coirbay, D. Dungate, H. El Karouni, J. O'KeefFe, S. Luttrell Alcatel Bell NV, Berkenrodelei 33, B-2660 Hoboken, Antwerp, Belguim 1. SUMMARY For the ENVISAT mission with the Polar Platform (PPF), an earth observation programme funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Ka-Band Subsystem (KBS) will transmit data from the on-board sensors to earth via a Geostationary satellite of the Data Relay Satellite System (DRS). In this inter- satellite inter-orbit communication link, the KBS Antenna points in "open loop" towards a DRS satellite with high accuracy and maintains track as the PPF continues in its low earth orbit. An outboard assembly (OBA), comprising a 0.9 metre parabolic Antenna attached to its pointing mechanism (APM) is mounted on a mast which is deployed once the PPF is in orbit. The Ka-Band microwave transmitter, which feeds the A

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