Reducing Set of Parameters of the Best-Fit Paraboloid at Electronic Compensation for Thermal Distortion of a Satellite Hybrid Antenna Reflector

Multi-beam hybrid reflector antennas (MBHRA) used in satellite communications largely determine the energy budget of the system. In orbit, the uneven and variable solar heat flux leads to distortion of the antenna reflector surface. As a result, the beams are shifting and the network coverage may degrade unacceptably. Controlling the excitation of cluster elements based on the search for the best-fit paraboloid (BFP) from signals received by the antenna array from a terrestrial beacon is one of the options for adapting MBHRA to reflector distortion. There are algorithmic difficulties in obtaining all six BFP parameters. An unexpected possibility of reducing the number of required BFP parameters, accompanied by a slight decrease in coverage of the working area, is discussed.