Reconfigurable antennas and microwave tomography

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The program covers two areas in microwave engineering. The first area addresses novel reconfigurable spacecraft antennas. Once a telecommunication satellite is in orbit, a reconfigurable antenna would allow the coverage region to be modified as a function of market demand, thus providing re-use capability of a payload in different missions over a the satellite's lifetime. Reconfigurability is also needed in remote sensing antennas used for earth imaging. In this case, the main antenna beam can be modified at a very high rate. For small satellites, an attractive antenna technology consists in using flexible membranes to make reflectors and directly radiating arrays. Membranes are lightweight and can be folded to reduce stowage volume during launch, which considerably reduces mission costs. Feasibility of reconfigurable membrane antennas will depend on new devices with tunable response and availability of low-loss transmission lines. The program will propose new tunable devices designed specifically for implementation on membranes. Reconfigurable lens and reflector structures will also be studied.