A review on developments of deployable membrane-based reflector antennas. Issue 9 (1st November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chandra, Mukesh; Kumar, Satish; Chattopadhyaya, Somnath; Chatterjee, Sayan; Kumar, Prakash
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 68:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 3749
• Page End: 3764
• Publication Date: 2021-11-01
• Subjects: Large deployable antenna -- Reflector antennas -- Gossamer space structure -- Membrane-based reflector antennas -- Ultra-lightweight structure; HIA Hybrid Inflatable Antenna -- LDV Laser Doppler Vibrometer -- SMP Smart Material Polymers -- SMA Shape Memory Alloy -- GS Gossamer Structure -- GRC Glenn Research Centre -- LaRC Langley Research Centre -- RF Radio Frequency -- RMS Root Mean Square -- NIS NEXRAD in Space -- LDA Large Deployable Antenna -- FEA Finite Element Analysis -- SAR Synthetic antenna reflector -- IEA Inflatable antenna experiment -- IMPC Ionic polymer metal composites -- PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride -- MFC Macro-Fiber Composite; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.06.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: The gossamer space structures are very large and ultra-lightweight structures. A large aperture-based space structure is highly efficient in capturing signals from a wide coverage area. However, their deployment in space has been a critical challenge to date. Extensive research has been carried out on various types of gossamer structures used for earth exploration and deep space applications. Space antenna, in general, should have a large electrical aperture, be light in weight with small stowage volume, be easily deployable in space, and thermally stable. The antenna consists mainly of a reflector as a major part and a torus for supporting the reflector, electronic control unit, and struts. This paper covers an extensive review of gossamer space structure considering different categories of large deployable antennas. More attention has been given to a large membrane-based antenna having a parabolic reflector. This work includes the study of designs, analyses, and development of prototypes and successful deployment of space structures in orbit. We emphasize understanding the behaviour of thin membrane, their static and dynamic characteristics, wrinkling control, shape control of thin membrane reflector, and recent advances in deployment techniques of large deployable antenna structures.