Telemetry, Teleranging and Telecommand (TTC) communication is essential to maintain space missions. Antennas for TTC applications must feature wide -or even omnidirectional -radiation properties. In this paper we present results of our investigations on small size cylindrical arrays which can ensure such radiation properties. Due to small volume required they can be mounted at top and bottom of small spacecraft. Our interest is focused on the S-band, however, results can be extended onto upper microwave frequency bands. We attempted to optimize radiation and impedance properties of patch elements conformal to a small radius cylindrical surface, which is about a wavelength in diameter. The considered cylindrical arrays consist of three to seven probe-fed patches. As a further upgrade to the investigated cylindrical antenna we propose to use a spherical patch on a top of such cylindrical arrays. With use of less expensive materials, the proposed antenna concepts can be applied in wireless communication and in electronic instruments.

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The paper presents a dual-band integrated antenna for use onboard spacecraft. The L-and S-band antenna was developed in a course of our research we have carried on spacecraft antennas. The designed antenna features low profile which is more and more often desired in modern spacecraft. However, when antennas have low profile it is extremely difficult to generate high quality circular polarization over the wide spatial angle across the beam of the antenna element. The design of antenna electromagnetic and microwave circuits are meeting this expectation, so one patch is capable to serve well communication subsystem in one band across the entire radio horizon seen from the International Space Station (about 4000 km in diameter). Owing to conformality in the profile the antenna can be mounted on Earth and save significant efforts during attachment of the module.

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