S-BAND KOCH SNOWFLAKE FRACTAL
ANTENNA FOR CUBESATS
Orlando Francois Gonzales Palacios1,2
a20156013@pucp.edu.pe
Ricardo Erick Daz Vargas1
a20100863@pucp.edu.pe
Jorge Arturo Heraud Perez1
jheraud@pucp.edu.pe
AbstractThis paper presents the design, simulation and
implementation of a novel Koch curve fractal antenna, developed
according to the second iteration of the Koch snowflake fractal
for 2.3 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz. The measurements of the
simulated and fabricated antenna show good agreement for the
operating frequencies and desirable performance in gain,
bandwidth and VSWR parameters. Being a compact antenna, it
has a size, geometry and characteristics that go in accord to
CubeSats structure standards. The antenna was fabricated on a
1.5 mm thick FR-4 substrate. The VSWR achieved values are
lower than 1.4 for the frequencies used. Additionally, the
simulated radiation pattern is omnidirectional and shows good
gain and directivity. A maximum gain of 4.39 dBi was achieved.
KeywordsFractal; Koch snowflake; CubeSat; S-Band; 2.3
GHz; FR-4
I. INTRODUCTION
CubeSats space missions have increased over the last
decade, corresponding in a way to an increase in information,
technological support and experience accessible to universities,
small companies and countries that look forward to reach
higher levels in aerospace technology [1].
The development of CubeSat standards and orbital
parameters [2] are a challenge for the implementation of its
subsystems, which are vital to ensure communication with
earth stations, as are antennas for telemetry and tele-command
as part of such subsystems. Nonetheless, some missions tend to
fail due to communication issues, which are caused by an
inadequate antenna design. Thus it is critical to reach an
optimal design performance that guarantees the mission
success [3]. CubeSat antennas are commonly designed for
VHF/UHF bands as low bit-rate monopoles or dipoles and the
first Peruvian satellites, PUCP-Sat-1 and Pocket-PUCP, used
them effectively [4]. Moreover, implementation of complex
deployment systems is required due to the size of these
antennas as they are greater than the CubeSats themselves. In
order to achieve higher bit-rates, amateur S-Band (2.3 GHz
978-1-5090-2532-9/16/$31.00 2016 IEEE
Segundo Basilio Correa Erazo3
scorreae@unp.edu.pe
1
Pontificia Universidad Catlica del Per (PUCP) - Lima,
Per
2
Electrnica y Telecomunicaciones - Universidad Nacional
de Piura - Piura, Per
3
Escuela de Matemtica - Universidad Nacional de Piura -
Piura, Per
2.4 GHz) radio equipment and antennas are being developed
[5].
In this paper, we design a micro-strip fractal antenna on a
FR-4 substrate, which is convenient for low-budget
implementations. Fractal designs allow to reduce size and to
maintain a wide bandwidth according to its number of
iterations. This is a great contribution to the CubeSats
planning process since the components volume is a critical
factor for its development standard. CubeSats simulations
work with a passive magnetic attitude stabilization system [6].
Therefore, we design an antenna with an omnidirectional
radiation pattern to increase pointing accuracy [7].
The dimensions of the CubeSat faces are also considered,
depending on the number of units (1U, 2U, 3U). The 1U
satellite standard states that each face must have a 10 cm 10
cm area. With CubeSat faces primarily used for solar panels,
the area available for antennas is thus restricted
II. KOCH SNOWFLAKE ANTENNA DESIGN
A. Mathematical Background
Banachs fixed point theorem [8] rigorously justifies the
existence of fractal sets which are characterized for their auto-
similarity and can be modeled as the fixed point of a
contractive operator. Such operator, called Hutchinson operator
n
[8], is defined by T ( A) = wi ( A ) and acts on the space of
i =1
compact sets h( X ) ; where X is a metric space.
In the above definition, the set w = {w1 , w2 , , wn } is called
Iterated Function System (IFS), and each wi is a linear
contraction over the metric space X [9].
The IFS that generates the Koch curve is given by:
 Copper thickness: 20 m
1 1
w1 ( x, y ) = x , y Loss tangent: TanD = 0.003
3 3
1 3 3 1 1 Frequency:
w2 ( x, y ) = 6 x 6 y , 6 x + 6 y + 3 ,0 2.3 GHz to 2.45 GHz (Amateur Radio Band)
Ground Plane: 6 mm 26.30 mm 0.02 mm
1
w ( x, y ) = x + 3 3 1 1 3 Microstrip: 5.30 mm 4.81mm 0.02mm
6 y , x + y + ,
3
6 6 6 2 6 Feed line: Coaxial Cable (50 )

w4 ( x, y ) = 1 x , 1 y + 2 ,0
3 3 3
When the Koch curve function with 4 iterations is
evaluated in a segment of length one, it results in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3. Antenna Geometry

Fig. 1. Koch Curve with 4 iterations IV. SIMULATION AND RESULTS

The dimensions of the substrate, fractal geometry and
When the previous IFS is evaluated on each side of an ground plane are analytically calculated using formulae
equilateral triangle, the Koch snowflake is obtained (Fig. 2) for detailed at [11] and after optimized to operate between 2.3
one, two, three and four iterations. GHz and 2.45 GHz at EM CAD Microware Studio by
B. Fractal Antenna Parameters Computer Simulation Technology (CST). The dimensions we
obtained after the optimization are shown in Section III. This
For fractal designs, the dimensions and working
setting achieves maximum gains of 4.39 dBi, 4.18 dBi and 4.04
frequencies are dependent on the number of iterations of the
dBi for 2.3 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz respectively.
function. We developed an algorithm in Matlab using the IFS
to determine the size of the antenna in relation to the frequency
of our design. Fig. 2 shows the results of a simulation at a
frequency of 2.4 GHz and 4 different iterations, later exported
to CST Microware Studio [8-10].

Fig. 4. Simulated S11 parameter

Fig. 2. Koch Snowflake with 1, 2, 3 and 4 iterations

This design is based on closed-loop type antennas Simulated VSWR (Fig. 5) working frequency range goes
extensively used on HF, VHF and UHF systems and antenna from 2.25 GHz to 2.45 GHz with a 1.45 threshold.
arrays [10]. Moreover, the radiation pattern of an electrically
small loop with any Euclidian form is similar to that of an
infinitesimal dipole, having its maximum perpendicular to the
loop plane and its zero parallel to the loop plane [11].
III. ANTENNA PARAMETERS
The designed fractal loop microstrip antenna is mounted on a
FR-4 substrate with the following characteristics after
optimization as shown in Fig. 3:
Substrate (FR-4):
Relative Permittivity: r = 4.3
Substrate thickness: 1.5 mm Fig. 5. Simulated VSWR
 Since a fractal antenna radiates in a pattern normal to its
loop surface, the azimuth pattern for =90 is important. The
azimuth and elevation radiation patterns for our working
frequencies are similar, as we see in Figs. 6-8.
Fig. 6. Simulated azimuth and elevation radiation patterns at 2.3 GHz
Fig. 7. Simulated azimuth and elevation radiation patterns at 2.4 GHz
Fig. 8. Simulated azimuth and elevation radiation patterns at 2.45 GHz
V. CONSTRUCTION AND LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS
The antenna was built by O. Gonzales at the laboratories of
INRAS during a period of two months and tested by R. Diaz
and O. Gonzales at the Telecommunications Lab, at PUCP.
The main instrument used was a Vector Network Analyzer
(VNA).
The results of our measurements show good agreement
with the simulation; furthermore, VSWR and S11 values (Fig
4-5) show better performance than simulated. According to the
S11 parameter, the antenna working frequency band goes from
2.21 GHz to 2.5 GHz, with a -10 dB threshold. S11 minimum
is found at 2.31 GHz with a value of -39.56 dB. According to
VSWR, the working frequency band goes from 2.25 GHz to
2.44 GHz, with a 1.4 threshold. VSWR minimum is found at
2.31 GHz with a value of 1.02.
The radiation pattern test was done at the
telecommunications lab noise free installations. We required
an amplifier so the far field signal could be discriminated from
the noise floor. We placed the transmitter in the center of a
three 3m circle and measured the received power with the
VNA at one degree intervals along the circumference, using
the antenna under test at each end. Overall experiment setup
and measurements were done over a period of 2 days. These
were later processed to be shown in this paper.
We performed radiation pattern measurements, which
showed similarity to simulated values (Fig. 9). Nevertheless,
we estimate that they need to be checked in an anechoic
chamber in the near future.
Fig. 9. Measured Reflection Coefficient (S11) and VSWR
 VI. CONCLUSIONS
An S-Band fractal microstrip antenna for CubeSat
communication was designed. The designed fractal microstrip
antenna is proven to work in the S-Band frequencies. We have
demonstrated that fractal design with the chosen number of
iterations is optimal for CubeSat applications in terms of
budget, weight and dimensions. We have achieved antenna
dimensions of 3.5 cm 4.5 cm and a 2.3 GHz working
frequency over a FR-4 subtstrate. The small dimensions of the
antenna prevent us from designing complex deployment
systems and reduce the satellites weight.
The antenna working frequency band goes from 2.25 GHz
to 2.45 GHz and is tuned to 2.3 GHz, which belongs to S-
Band frequencies. It has an omnidirectional radiation pattern
with a maximum gain of 4.39 dBi. The fabricated antenna
measured S11 value is -39.56 dB. The development of an
omnidirectional radiation pattern allows CubeSats that use a
passive magnetic attitude stabilization system to maintain a
communication link with no need of an aiming system.
We are planning to continue with the research in order to
homogenize the omnidirectional radiation pattern by a deeper
analysis of the used fractal dimension and its influence over
the antennas electromagnetic fields. Further investigation will
be made to study inter-CubeSat communications similar to the
Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks (EDSN) project
[12]. Finally, with further testing using interference avoidance
systems and acquisition of proper measurement tools, we
expect to enhance the radiation pattern measurements.
Fig. 10. Desgined fractal antenna deployed on CubeSat
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research was conducted under the permission of the
Universidad Nacional de Piura to work at the Institute for
Radio Astronomy (INRAS) of the Pontificia Universidad
Catlica del Per (PUCP) and we are grateful to both
universities. We also thank Dr. Manuel Yarleque, head of the
Telecommunications Laboratory at PUCP for his support and
for granting access to the necessary test equipment.
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