Fabrication and space-qualifying a lightweight corrugated horn with low sidelobes for global-Earth coverage

Antennas operating from geostationary satellites are often required to give global-Earth coverage for telemetry and command signals as well as conventional communications traffic. As the number of satellites in geostationary orbit increases, it is important to minimize interference to neighboring satellites. This requirement means that the amount of co- and cross-polarized sidelobe power should be as small as possible. This article describes steps in fabricating and performance testing of lightweight low-sidelobe horns.