Quiet zone field enlargement of dual reflector compact ranges for testing of complex satellite antenna farms

The Compensated Compact Range CCR 75/60 of Astrium GmbH represents the world-wide standard for highly accurate measurements of antennas and payload systems of communication satellites. The size of the quiet zone field of this type of test facility was originally adapted for RF testing of so-called Ariane 4 class communication satellites which were launched in the last 20 years. This class contains mainly satellites with a mass of approximately 2000-3000 kg, one Tx and Rx beam/antenna and approximately 20 transponders with an overall transmit power of 1000-2000 Watt. During the last 10 year, the Ariane 4 launcher is replaced by Ariane 5 according to larger carrier capacities and reduced costs per payload weight. The Ariane 5 class contains satellites with a mass of 3000-9600 kg, several Tx and Rx beam/antennas and typically 30-40 transponders with an overall transmit power of 2000-3000 Watt. Within this paper, the improvements of the RF performance as well as enlargement of the quiet zone size of the modified Compensated Compact Range of Astrium GmbH will be described. The performed analyses for quiet zone enlargement with the simulation tool GRASP as well as serration optimization steps will be given in detail. At last, verification measurement results of plane wave probing in the quiet zone proving the necessary size for the Astra 1 M test campaign as well as improved field planarity of the quiet zone will be shown. Additionally, comparisons of measured and predicted contour plots of the Astra 1 M antennas will be given.