As part of the WIFI_LTE_5G Antenna for Lunar Assets Network project, led by EOSOL Group, the LunarCommsLab team has participated in the measurement campaigns of several antenna prototypes in the anechoic chamber of the Universidad de Oviedo. The goal of the project was to develop an antenna with an omnidirectional radiation pattern and circular polarization for potential lunar assets. The antenna had to be all‑metal in order to withstand the harsh lunar environment. In addition, it needed to be easily integrated into different structures.

In the first phase of the project, two proof-of-concept prototypes were developed, each with different structural characteristics. Comet Space carried out a thermo-elastic analysis of both antennas, demonstrating that the structural requirements were met.

In the second phase, the team selected the patch-based prototype. The antenna was designed with different configurations, both in the S-band and C-band. It was also measured on a lunar rover mock-up to assess the potential effects on the radiation pattern once integrated into a rover. The measurement results showed good agreement with the simulations developed by the EOSOL team. Finally, the antenna successfully passed the thermal vacuum test, which simulates the Moon’s thermal conditions. No changes were found in the antenna’s radiation characteristics after this test.