Efficient Test and Characterization of Space Transmit-Receive Modules Using Scalable and Multipurpose Automated Test System

Transmit-Receive (TR) modules are essential requirements of a space borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) used in the earth observation satellites with all-weather and day-night applications. Active array space radars use typically hundreds of TR modules in each satellite. These modules need extensive testing to ensure that they are well matched across the array. The TR modules are tested during the multiple stages of the assembly and integration process and traceability is required at every step. The functioning of the onboard radar hugely depends on the TR module test performance and hence the accurate, fast, and reliable testing of such modules becomes critical to their mass production. Each of the TR module has 15 parameters to test with 20 spot frequencies and the tests are repeated at typically 30 stages implying 9000 readings. To realize the automatic testing of hundreds of the C band dual TR modules of a Radar Imaging Satellite, an advanced automatic test system (ATS) is successfully developed. Conventional testing and set up time for each TR module has been brought down from around 5 hours to 30 mins using the ATS which has additional features of testing single and multiple modules at ambient and environmental test phases. The set-up clearance time is reduced by 96% and test engineer requirement is significantly brought down from 448 to 14 engineer-hours. Multiple TR module test capability using this ATS has reduced the requirement of expensive environmental chambers by 75%. The ATS also has the hardware and software features to store, analyze and present the statistical test results of the large-scale data captured for TR modules over their journey prior to the launch of the satellite. In this paper, the need for an automated, reliable, scalable, and multipurpose test solution for large numbers of space TR module testing and characterisation is explained. The measurable improvements in resource utilization, speed, efficiency, productivity, and flexibility are covered in detail. The test parameters and multi-utility features of the automated test station are detailed along with the test philosophy.