Electromagnetic cavity effects from transmitters inside a launch vehicle fairing

This paper provides insight into the complicated issue of launch vehicle resonate cavity effects that has applicability outside of the space industry. Radiation from spacecraft or launch vehicle antennas located within the enclosures of a launch vehicle generates an electromagnetic environment that is difficult to predict accurately. This paper discusses the test results of power levels produced by a transmitter within a representative scaled vehicle fairing model and provides preliminary modeling results at critical frequencies using a commercial tool. Initially, fairing walls are aluminum and are then layered with materials to simulate acoustic blanketing structures that are typical in payload fairings. The effects of these blanketing materials on the power levels within the fairing are examined. Industry data is also reviewed for comparison purposes.