The Boeing Company
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN ANTENNA

Abstract:

A method for calibrating an antenna includes receiving a plurality of signals transmitted from an antenna on a spacecraft. The antenna includes a plurality of phase array elements. The method also includes determining a phase tilt of the phase array elements based at least partially upon the signals. The method also includes removing a first portion from the determined phase tilt. The first portion is caused by a first location of the spacecraft, a first attitude of the spacecraft, or both. The method also includes estimating the phase tilt of the phase array elements after the first portion is removed. The method also includes generating a reference tilt matrix for the phase array elements. The method also includes comparing the estimated phase tilt to the reference tilt matrix. The method also includes determining a pointing error of the antenna based at least partially upon the comparison.