The EUTELSAT II reconfigurable multibeam antenna subsystem

The antenna subsystem configuration and high-power multicarrier design considerations for EUTELSAT II are discussed along with the antenna-spacecraft interfaces (thermal control and antenna alignment and integration). The main feature of the EUTELSAT II series will be its ability to adapt to changes in demand for European telephony, television, and data transmission services. The EUTELSAT II series will use more powerful amplifiers and beams with larger coverage areas to produce the same power flux density on earth as the ECS series. In addition, the use of multiple feeds for the two EUTELSAT II reflector antennas will make it possible to reconfigure the antenna beams and hence the coverage areas. In fact, for each antenna and each polarization it will be possible to switch from a standard beam with medium gain and large coverage area to a narrower beam with higher gain and reduced coverage. The latter will transmit 51-dBW signals, which can be received by antennas of less than 1 m in diameter over a large part of Europe.<>