Patch antennas setups for omnidirectional pattern to provide TTC links onboard small spacecraft

Advancements in patch antennas made feasible their applications in hard to sustain environments, such as space or sea and oceans. These applications are often quite new and often represent maturing broadband communication. In many instances one of the main design objectives is to ensure omnispherical or omniazimuth coverage with patch antennas placed onboard a specific platform. With use of numerical CAD tools and with application of near-field antenna measurements, we have carry on extensive research into relevant design guidelines for ten years. In this paper we present some of our findings.