Novel RF Antennas Technologies

**139**

**Chapter 7**

**Abstract**

A Review

tional parameters and tasks.

like other communication elements.

**1. Introduction**

*Volkan Akan and Erdem Yazgan*

Antennas for Space Applications:

It is well known that antennas are inevitable for wireless communication systems. After the launch of Sputnik-1 which was the first artificial satellite developed by USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), telecommunication technologies started to develop for space excessively. However, significance of the antennas as first or final RF-front end element has not been altered for the space communication systems. In this chapter, after introducing telecommunication and antenna technologies for space, which space environmental conditions are to be faced by these antennas are summarized. Then, frequency allocation that is a crucial design factor for antennas is explained and tabulated. And finally at the last part, different types of antennas used in different space missions are presented with their func-

With the II World War, especially radar and military communication technologies gained thoughtful importance, and studies on antenna design, analysis and measurement caught a great momentum. Particularly, low volume antennas were needed for installation in air and naval combat vehicles. By the development of digital computers aftermath of the war, antenna design and analysis began to be carried to the computer environment to realize analytical and computational electromagnetic techniques. This era accelerated development process of antennas

Nowadays, studies on microwave integrated circuits and components, which are frequently used in communication systems designed to operate at high frequencies, are going ahead at a dizzying pace. In addition, theoretical and experimental studies focusing on solid-state devices and planar transmission lines have greatly contributed to the development of microwave integrated circuits and components and expanded their use. In the light of these developments, interest to antennas, particularly for planar ones, has increased and thus, in order to reduce the cost and also volume occupied by microwave and RF systems, printed antennas are generally

As is well known, the space race of humankind started with the first artificial satellite *Sputnik-1* which was developed and placed into orbit by the USSR in 1957. A model of Sputnik-1 is shown in **Figure 1**. In the same year, *Sputnik-2* placed a living being into orbit of Earth for the first time. In the following year, the USA

preferred to use them with high frequency circuits in the same plane.

**Keywords:** space, antenna, communication, satellite, spacecraft
