Antenna system for satellite applications

An antenna system for satellite applications, the antenna system comprising an antenna array and a feed structure, the antenna array and at least a part of the feed structure being configured to be mounted for deployment above a first surface of a satellite,

• the antenna array being a passive antenna array and being configured to have a first antenna array state and a second antenna array state, the second antenna array state being a deployed antenna array state,
• the feed structure being configured to have a first feed structure state and a second feed structure state, the first feed structure state being a stowed state and the second feed structure state being a deployed feed structure state,
• wherein the feed structure comprises a deployable element, and wherein the feed structure is planar when the deployable element is stowed in the first feed structure state,
• wherein the feed structure is an all-metal feed structure and being configured to provide a linearly polarized incident field for the antenna array in the first-deployed feed structure state, and
• wherein the feed structure comprises a radiating element array, including one of an array of radiating slots and an array of radiating patches;
• the antenna array comprising a plurality of array elements, and
• wherein the plurality of array elements forms a polarization conversion surface configured for converting the linearly polarized incident field to a reflected/transmitted circular polarized field.