Systematic Evidence of Progressive Workflow Discontinuities in CubeSat Microstrip Antenna Design: From Electromagnetic Optimization to System Integration

This systematic review of 79 CubeSat antenna studies reveals a progressive "workflow attrition cascade" (68%→70%→87%→92%) wherein electromagnetic design sophistication systematically decouples from deployment-ready system integration. While CubeSats demand reliable communication under severe constraints, our PRISMA 2020-compliant synthesis demonstrates that current research workflows rarely translate theoretical optimization into mission readiness. Specifically, 68% of studies omit critical simulation documentation, 70% rely on single-domain experimental validation inadequate for space qualification, 87% fail to achieve full thermal-mechanical integration of feeding elements, and 92% lack environmental qualification during fabrication. Rather than reflecting technical inability, this attrition highlights systemic gaps between component-level design and system-level engineering, exacerbated by academic incentives and resource constraints. Addressing these discontinuities requires a paradigm shift from isolated electromagnetic optimization toward concurrent multiphysics integration, establishing validated workflows essential for transitioning CubeSat payloads from experimental demonstrations to operational multi-year constellations.