Full-Wave Modelling of the Antennas for the Galileo Satellite

This paper describes the Full-wave time domain modelling of antennas suitable for use in the Galileo Navigation and Search and Rescue payloads. Some results of modelling the antennas with CST [1] are presented for the isolated antennas and when mounted on a representative spacecraft panel. Example patterns for edge of coverage performance are shown along with group delay predictions for the navigation antenna. Periodicity in the patterns is evidenced from the 3/6 fold array geometry. The degradation of the navigation antenna is seen to be small when included together on the spacecraft model , however there is a reduction in the S&R antenna performance due to scattering from the spacecraft panel, structural elements and navigation antenna structure.