Which characteristic describes beam-steering range and speed in a phased-array antenna used for SEW?

• A. The maximum angular range and the rate at which the beam can be repositioned.
• B. The minimum energy required to operate.
• C. The satellite's orbital velocity.
• D. The data encoding scheme.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is understanding what beam steering range and speed mean for a phased-array antenna. In a phased array, the main beam is steered by adjusting the relative phases of many elements, so you can point the beam electronically without moving parts. The angular range is how far you can point the beam across the sky, and the steering speed is how fast you can reposition that beam from one direction to another. Together, they describe how much of the space you can cover and how quickly you can react—crucial for SEW where rapid target tracking, repositioning energy, or adapting to changing needs matters. The other options don’t describe steering capability: they refer to power requirements, the satellite’s motion, or data encoding, which are not about how the beam is directed.