Method for in-orbit multiple receive antenna pattern testing

A method of testing a satellite receive antenna from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting an uplink test signal to a receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,
• slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said receive antenna's coverage area,
• sensing a power level of said uplink test signal onboard said satellite during said slewing,
• transmitting said sensed power level from said satellite to said ground test station,
• transmitting satellite orientation information corresponding to said sensed power level to said ground test station, and
• using said sensed power level and said orientation information to verify the operation of said receive antenna on said satellite.

A method of testing a satellite receive antenna from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting an uplink test signal to a receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,
• slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said receive antenna's coverage area,
• sensing a power level of said uplink test signal onboard said satellite during said slewing,
• transmitting said sensed power level from said satellite to said ground test station, and
• using said sensed power level to verify the operation of said receive antenna on said satellite,
• wherein said sensed power level is stored on the satellite during said slewing, and thereafter transmitted from said satellite to said ground test station.

A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

• transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,
• slewing said satellite over orientation angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas' cover areas,
• sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,
• transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels and said orientation angles from said satellite to said ground station, and
• using said sensed power levels and said orientation angles to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite.

A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

• transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,
• slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas' cover areas,
• sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,
• transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels from said satellite to said ground station,
• transmitting satellite orientation information corresponding to said sensed power levels, and
• using said sensed power levels and said satellite orientation information to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite.

A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

• transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,
• slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas' cover areas,
• sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,
• transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels from said satellite to said ground station, and
• using said sensed power levels and said satellite orientation information to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite,
• wherein said sensed power level is stored on the satellite during said slewing, and thereafter transmitted from said satellite to said ground test station.

A method of performing in-orbit receive antenna pattern measurements for a satellite from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of

• transmitting an uplink test signal in an uplink beam to at least one receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,
• transmitting a series of position commands to said satellite from said ground test station to rotate said satellite to orientation angles within said uplink beam,
• sensing a power level of said uplink test signal as received by said receive antenna onboard said satellite during said satellite rotation,
• converting said sensed power level and said orientation angles to a corresponding digital code,
• transmitting a telemetry stream which includes said digital code from said satellite to said ground test station, and
• mapping said at least one receive antenna pattern from said telemetry stream.

A method of performing in-orbit receive antenna pattern measurements for a satellite from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting an uplink test signal in an uplink beam to at least one receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,
• transmitting a series of position commands to said satellite from said ground test station to rotate said satellite within said uplink beam,
• sensing a power level of said uplink test signal as received by said receive antenna onboard said satellite during said satellite rotation,
• converting said sensed power level to a corresponding digital code,
• transmitting a telemetry stream which includes said digital code from said satellite to said ground test station,
• transmitting satellite position information corresponding to said sensed power level in said telemetry data stream to said ground test station from said satellite, and
• mapping said at least one receive antenna pattern from said telemetry stream and said satellite position information.