A spacecraft comprising: a payload subsystem, the payload subsystem including a close packed phased array of feed elements configured to illuminate an antenna reflector; a beam forming network disposed proximate to the array of feed elements; and a plurality of power amplifiers disposed between the BFN and the array of feed elements, wherein: the phased array of feed elements forms a plurality of beams, each beam being formed by a center feed element, and six edge feed elements adjacent to and surrounding the center feed element; the BFN includes a plurality of variable amplitude and phase adjusting arrangements disposed between (i) m:1 power combiners that are communicatively coupled with the power amplifiers and (ii) at least one 1:n power splitter; each VAP adjusting arrangement is communicatively coupled with a single respective one of the feed elements, and at least some of the feed elements are coupled with multiple VAP adjusting arrangements such that the payload subsystem includes more VAP adjusting arrangements than feed elements; each center feed element is communicatively coupled with a first VAP adjusting arrangement and each of the six edge feed elements is communicatively coupled by way of respective ones of the m:1 power combiners with at least two VAP adjusting arrangements associated with adjacent beams that share the edge feed element; and m is greater than 1, and n is greater than 2. a close packed phased array of feed elements configured to illuminate an antenna reflector; a beam forming network disposed proximate to the array of feed elements; and a plurality of power amplifiers disposed between the BFN and the array of feed elements, wherein: the phased array of feed elements forms a plurality of beams, each beam being formed by a center feed element, and six edge feed elements adjacent to and surrounding the center feed element; the BFN includes a plurality of variable amplitude and phase adjusting arrangements disposed between (i) m:1 power combiners that are communicatively coupled with the power amplifiers and (ii) at least one 1:n power splitter; each VAP adjusting arrangement is communicatively coupled with a single respective one of the feed elements, and at least some of the feed elements are coupled with multiple VAP adjusting arrangements such that the payload subsystem includes more VAP adjusting arrangements than feed elements; each center feed element is communicatively coupled with a first VAP adjusting arrangement and each of the six edge feed elements is communicatively coupled by way of respective ones of the m:1 power combiners with at least two VAP adjusting arrangements associated with adjacent beams that share the edge feed element; and m is greater than 1, and n is greater than 2. the phased array of feed elements forms a plurality of beams, each beam being formed by a center feed element, and six edge feed elements adjacent to and surrounding the center feed element; the BFN includes a plurality of variable amplitude and phase adjusting arrangements disposed between (i) m:1 power combiners that are communicatively coupled with the power amplifiers and (ii) at least one 1:n power splitter; each VAP adjusting arrangement is communicatively coupled with a single respective one of the feed elements, and at least some of the feed elements are coupled with multiple VAP adjusting arrangements such that the payload subsystem includes more VAP adjusting arrangements than feed elements; each center feed element is communicatively coupled with a first VAP adjusting arrangement and each of the six edge feed elements is communicatively coupled by way of respective ones of the m:1 power combiners with at least two VAP adjusting arrangements associated with adjacent beams that share the edge feed element; and m is greater than 1, and n is greater than 2.