Investigating the Coupling Effects Between CubeSTAR's Communication Antenna and Deployable Payload Sensors [Measurements Corner]

CubeSTAR is a space weather nanosatellite built at the University of Oslo (UiO). Its aim is to measure the absolute electron density in the ionosphere with a spatial resolution that has not previously been possible. The satellite uses deployable sensor booms to isolate the sensors from the plasma wake effects created by the satellite body. Due to the small size of the satellite, the payload booms are situated close to the communication antenna; this may cause a coupling that can influence the directivity of the antenna. In this article, the coupling effects between CubeSTAR's communication antenna and deployable payload sensors are investigated. The effects were analyzed through simulation with an emphasis on the change in the antenna's directivity in reference to the separation distance between the antenna and the sensor booms.