Advanced Antenna Systems for Satellite Communication Payloads

This talk presents various types of feed elements used for space 
applications. The first part of the talk discusses various feed elements 
suitable for space applications. These include feeds for reflectors, 
radars, phased arrays, global horns, and TT&C Omni-coverage feeds. Typical 
radiation patterns, scan performance, and design constraints will be 
presented along with hardware examples. The second part deals with the 
feed networks that go behind the radiating elements and includes OMTs, 
polarizers, filters/diplexers, combiners/dividers etc. Integrated design, 
analysis, and manufacture methods will be discussed. High power and PIM 
analysis and test methods will be discussed during the talk. Recent 
advances in the feed assembly design for low-loss and low cross-polar 
applications will be presented with examples. Feed elements suitable for 
array antennas and phased array systems for space applications will be 
discussed including practical examples. 

About Dr. Sudhakar Rao: 

Dr. Sudhakar Rao received B.Tech, M.Tech, and Ph.D degrees in electronics 
& communications engineering from REC Warangal, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT 
Madras. He had a long and distinguished careers in ECIL Hyderabad, ERDE 
Bangalore, University of Trondheim Norway, University of Manitoba, Spar 
Aerospace Limited Canada, Hughes/Boeing Satellite Systems and Lockheed 
Martin Space Systems. 

Dr. Rao invented novel high power TVAC test methods for satellite payloads 
using “pick-up horn absorber loads” that have about 8 times cost and 
schedule savings. He developed antenna payloads for more than 65 
satellites including first mobile satellite M-Sat and first Direct 
Broadcast Satellite with local channels (DirecTV-4S). His work on 
development of radiation templates for complex radiation patterns of 
satellite antennas for interference analysis was adopted and recommended 
by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)/CCIR in 1992 as the 
world-wide standard for satellite manufacturers and operators. 

Dr. Rao authored over 165 technical papers, co-edited three text book 
volumes and has 44 U.S patents. He is a Fellow of IEEE and IETE. He 
received several awards including the Boeing’s Special Invention and 
Technical Achievement awards, Lockheed Martin’s Inventor of Technology 
award, IEEE's Benjamin Franklin Key and Judith Resnik Technical Field 
awards, Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year, Asian American Engineer of 
the year award and IETE’s 2015 Prof. S.N. Mitra Memorial award.