In-Orbit Antenna Pattern Extraction Method for Active Phased-Array SAR Antennas

Abstract

In this letter, we propose a novel in-orbit antenna pattern extraction method for active phased-array SAR antennas using T/R module calibration data. The antenna pattern extraction methodology based on T/R calibration data is demonstrated. Unlike previous methods that only verify the mainlobe antenna pattern based on a distributed target, the proposed method can be utilized to verify the mainlobe pattern as well as the sidelobe antenna pattern, regardless of the accessibility to a distributed ground target. The in-orbit KOMPSAT-5 SAR antenna pattern verification result is presented using data extracted from the dedicated T/R calibration technique.