X-Band Feed 80 kW Breadboard for ESA Deep Space Antennas

To perform a preliminary RF, thermal and mechanical design of the new uplink feed system to transmit 80 kW continuous wave in X- Band and to manufacture and test a breadboard of critical feed components, reusing results from T912-005GS and T212-050GS.

The ESA Deep Space Network consists of three 35m beam waveguide antennas located around the globe. The 35m beam waveguide antennas employ an X-Band feed covering the Deep Space uplink band near 7.2 GHz and down-link band near 8.45 GHz. Simultaneous uplink commanding at 20 kW and low noise reception (Generation #2) is supported. In order to increase the transmit power capability of ESA Deep Space antennas it is currently considered to add a new high power feed and associated 80 kW High Power Amplifier. The following activities are envisaged: - Trade off between two different feed topologies (traditional versus turnstyle) - Preliminary design of the selected feed topology - Manufacturing and testing of critical components - Documentation (design documents, test procedures and test reports)The activity shall consider the integration of a) X-Band cryo feed prototype receive section (from T912-005GS) b) Standard existing X-Band feed receive section with cryo LNA generation #2