Patent ID: 8952848
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. A system for determining a transverse location of the phase center of an antenna carried by a space vehicle comprising: the antenna comprising at least one antenna element and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) probes positioned about the at least one antenna element and surrounding a geometrical center of the antenna, each antenna element and RF probe being located at a predefined position and being carried with the antenna by a common platform, the plurality of RF probes positioned symmetrically about the geometrical center of the antenna to thereby define a plurality of RF probe pairs with each RF probe pair including a pair of diametrically opposed RF probes; a plurality of phase detectors configured to determine a phase difference between the RF signals transmitted by the at least one antenna element of the antenna and detected by the RF probes of respective RF probe pairs based on local measurements obtained following launch of the space vehicle that are unperturbed by atmospheric conditions; and a processor configured to determine the transverse location of the phase center of the antenna based upon the predefined position of each RF probe and the phase differences associated with the plurality of RF probe pairs, wherein the processor is also configured to determine the transverse location of the phase center of the antenna and provide the transverse location of the phase center of the antenna for transmission offboard the space vehicle following launch of the space vehicle.