Resistively Loaded FSS Clad Thermal Blankets for Enhanced RF Space Communications

A new concept for improving the performance of radio frequency (RF) space communication systems is described in this paper. This is achieved by employing resistively loaded Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) to electromagnetically decouple antennas that are sited above strongly illuminated host spacecraft platforms, that are covered with multilayer thermal insulation material (MLI). The metal backed FSS structures investigated in this study are manufactured using a 1.12 mm thick Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) sheet, which is suitable for integration into the outermost layer of commercially available thermal blankets which are constructed with the same material. The reduction in scattering, which produces pattern distortion in conjunction with reduced boresight directed gain and enhanced crosspolarisation in the field of view, is illustrated for the case of a low gain bidirectional circular polarized (CP) dipole. The antenna which works at 10 GHz is installed at various distances ranging from one half to five half wavelengths above a typical CubeSat platform.