Design, development and test of ICI radiometer back-end modules in the frame of metop 2nd-gen satellite constellation

This Thesis belongs to a scientific project realized by the TRYO Company, which is part of the aerospace sector of the SENER Group. It describes the design, analysis, measurements and results of one of the back-end modules EQM (Elecrical Qualification Model) of ICI (Ice Cloud Imager) radiometer, which is embarked in the satellites which form the space mission of MetOp-SG (MetOp Second Generation Program). The back-end module will operate at the sub-millimetre wave band of 325GHz, after down converters and contains the last part of the channels: amplifiers, filters, detectors and video section. The methodology and the development of the project start from customer requirements, the design of prototypes which will be integrated of the back-end and the detailed design, tuning, measurements, and validation of the main tests. Electromagnetic simulations tools as ADS [1] and HFSS [2] are used and also instrumentation as Vectorial Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Noise Figure Analyzers, Noise Generators, oscilloscopes and both data acquisition and data processing software. We expose the final results and the statement of compliance of the project requirements. Finally, the measurements and the performance of the back-end module are shown and we draw our conclusions.