Quiet Zone Extension of an existing Compensated Compact Range 75/60

Future telecommunication satellites are built with increasing antenna sizes and possess high demands on antenna measurement facilities. AIRBUS Defence & Space Compensated Compact Ranges (CCRs) are highly accurate facilities for antenna and payload testing. However, facilities of type CCR 75/60 have a quiet zone size of approximately 5 m diameter which can become critical for future satellite applications. For this demand the Quiet Zone Extension (QZE) upgrade has been developed for existing and well distributed CCRs in the market. Lightweight panels are installed on upper and lower edges of sub and main reflector. This achieves an extension of the quiet zone size to a height of 6 m. The first QZE upgrade has been performed recently at Thales Alenia Space in Cannes and the results are presented in this paper.