Direct radiating phased array antenna systems

A satellite comprising:

• a satellite main body;
• and
• a direct radiating phased array antenna coupled with a face of the satellite main body and comprising:
• a planar substrate having a first side and a second side;
• a plurality of radiating element configurations, each comprising:
• a microstrip radiating element coupled to the first side of the planar substrate;
• a plurality of active amplifier components coupled to a second side of the planar substrate;
• and
• a plurality of passive filter components each coupled between the plurality of active amplifier components and a respective feed port of the microstrip radiating element;
• a thermal conduction layer thermally coupled with the second side of the planar substrate;
• and
• a thermal radiation layer thermally coupled with the thermal conduction layer.

A method for producing a direct radiating phased array antenna for installation on a satellite, the method comprising:

• providing a planar substrate having a first side and a second side;
• forming an array of radiating element configurations on the planar substrate by, for each of the plurality of radiating element configurations:
• coupling a microstrip radiating element to the first side of the planar substrate in a respective first-side array position, wherein the microstrip radiating element comprises a respective feed port;
• and
• coupling a plurality of active amplifier components to a second side of the planar substrate in a respective second-side array position opposite the first-side array position;
• coupling a thermal conduction layer thermally with the second side of the planar substrate;
• and
• coupling a thermal radiation layer thermally with the thermal conduction layer.