Spacetenna Flatness and Error Correction

• Published in: IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments conference digest (Online) pp. 48 - 53
• Main Authors: Kragt Finnell, Abigail J., Powell, Sawyer H., Heng, Penghui, Schubert, Peter J.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; desense; Earth; Maintenance engineering; Metals; Robots; sidelobe levels; space solar power; Space vehicles; Wireless communication; wireless power transfer
• DOI: 10.1109/WiSEE.2019.8920300

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) from space-to-earth at a large scale will not be possible until the Side Lobe Levels (SLL) are reduced many orders of magnitude from the current technology available today. To accomplish this, careful design of the transmitting antenna (spacetenna) is imperative. Any module failures or errors in connectivity, including askew angles between adjacent sandwich modules, reduce the effectiveness of the antenna design and thereby increase SLL. This work examines two interrelated issues; error detection and repair, and spacetenna flatness correction. Multiple different designs of sandwich module mechanical connections, wiring, and control are examined. The results of the analysis and best options are presented in order to facilitate for ultra-low SLL for use in Space Solar Power for the benefit of humanity and the environment.