Wrapped Rib antenna into orbit and beyond

与依赖于反射的太阳辐射或地球发射的热辐射的基于卫星的光学地球观测系统不同，成像雷达仪器独立于光和热工作。雷达是在电磁频谱的微波区域发射辐射束的有源系统，合成孔径雷达(SAR)可以提供昼夜地球的图像。这项技术的一个关键优势是，云、雾和降水对微波没有任何显著影响，因此也可以独立于天气条件获取图像。根据雷达系统的频段，可以实现对植被、干燥土壤、冰雪的相当大的穿透。这使合成孔径雷达成为地球科学和地球监测的首选技术。拟议的项目将侧重于开发一种用于空间应用的创新的可展开合成孔径雷达天线。它将使牛津空间系统公司能够建造一种适合在轨演示的天线，并承担创新的可展开SAR缠绕肋形天线的进一步技术开发。这是一种很有前途的天线变体，被称为“缠绕肋形天线”，凭借其出色的射频性能与低质量和小堆积体积的组合，正获得全球航天行业越来越多的兴趣。这些类型的天线在从地球传输到太空的过程中会被存放起来，一旦到达预期的轨道就会部署到最终的结构中。改进的合成孔径雷达天线设计的最终目标是能够从太空获取实时的高分辨率地球图像。这可以通过卫星星座携带宽带、高频、高增益的合成孔径雷达天线来实现。

Unlike satellite based optical Earth Observation systems that rely on reflected solar radiation or thermal radiation emitted by Earth, imaging radar instruments work independently of light and heat. Radar is an active system that transmits a beam of radiation in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide day-and-night imagery of Earth. A key advantage of this technique is that clouds, fog and precipitation do not have any significant effect on microwaves, so images can also be acquired independent of weather conditions. Depending on the frequency band of the radar system considerable penetration can be achieved into vegetation, dry soil, ice and snow. This makes SAR the technology of choice for geoscience and Earth monitoring.The proposed project will focus on the development of an innovative deployable SAR antenna for space applications. It will enable Oxford Space Systems to build an antenna suitable for an in orbit demonstration as well as undertaking further technical development of the innovative deployable SAR wrapped rib antenna This is a promising antenna variant, known as 'wrapped rib' is gaining increasing interest across the global space industry with its combination of excellent RF performance with low mass and small stowed volume.. These types of antennas remain stowed during their transit from Earth to space and deploy into their final configuration once their intended orbit is reached.The ultimate goal of an improved SAR antenna design is to enable the acquisition of real-time, high-resolution images of the Earth from space. This can be achieved through satellite constellations carrying wideband, high frequency, high-gain SAR antennas.