Verification of RF Performances of Ka-Band On-board Switching Transponder for COMS

Abstract

After the development of transponder equipment as flight model, a series of evaluation processes are performed to verify and identify them on system level if any of the performance parameters are degraded or changed. The results of these evaluations are a valuable data base during the test of the payload on the ground and for future anomaly investigations in orbit. This paper describes the verification activities required to evaluate the RF performances of transponder equipment itself and Ka-band on-board switching transponder subsystem for COMS. ETRI completed the design effort and has finished the development of transponder equipment according to the communications payload development milestone and the Ka-band on-board switching transponder is being assembled and under testing the initial RF performances so far. A brief outline of the project work, the design of the Ka-band communications payloads, and functional capability including three channels of on-board switching transponders and two multi-beam antennas configuration will be also addressed.