Data Downlink Antennas for Small Satellites in the NewSpace Era: Review and Perspectives

This paper provides a review of commercially-available data downlink antennas for small satellites, with particular focus on NewSpace applications. Various mission needs and associated solutions are discussed, from very low data rate requirements to very demanding high-resolution microwave and optical instrument missions. The antenna products covered include S-band TT&C antennas and X-band data downlink antennas. The evolution of the market is also addressed with a discussion of on-going product developments for future space missions, including millimeter-wave solutions and reconfigurable antenna systems. The solutions presented are mostly relevant for Earth observation missions, although some also find use cases in low Earth orbit satellite communication constellations, as well as deep space exploration missions.