Enhancing data downlink performance with beam steerable reflectarray antennas

The increasing importance of satellite data downlink in remote sensing missions has underscored the role of antenna performance in determining data transfer speed and volume. The authors propose a novel approach to enhance data downlink performance in remote sensing applications for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The proposed method reduces the complexity of the telecommunications system by employing an X-Band digital beam steerable reflectarray for Earth Observation (EO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and ground communications, thereby streamlining satellite operations. This method was evaluated over a simulated two-day period in a 550 km sun-synchronous orbit to estimate access time and data transfer efficiency. Our results demonstrate that beam steerable reflectarray antennas offer considerable advantages over traditional antenna solutions, with improved access time and increased data transfer efficiency. These findings hold significant implications for the design and deployment of satellite constellation systems, potentially enhancing the performance of data downlinks in remote sensing missions.