RF-MEMS for Reconfigurable Satellite Antenna

High data rate communications and effective utilization of definite frequency resource are requested for future satellite communications. Application to satellite system of reconfigurable antenna is one of solutions for those needs. On the other hand, downsizing of a satellite is required in the world market. To realize high performance, small size and light mass at the same time for the reconfigurable space antenna, RF- MEMS (Radio Frequency Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology is considered to be a key-technology. However RF-MEMS has no space heritage, so RF-MEMS needs to be verified applicability to space environment. We have developed RF-MEMS test equipment applied to The Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System-2 (SERVIS-2) satellite to verify applicability of RF- MEMS for satellite and resistance to space environment and proto flight test (PFT) completed. This paper describes concept introduction of reconfigurable space antenna utilizing RF-MEMS technology and development results of a proto flight model (PFM) of RF- MEMS test equipment for SERVIS-2 satellite.