Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unfurlable satellite antennas: A review

Antennes déployables pour satellite: revue

  • Published:
Annales Des Télécommunications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A review of unfurlable satellite antennas is presented. Typical application requirements for future space missions are first outlined. Then, US and European mesh and inflatable antenna concepts are described. Precision deployables using rigid panels or petals are not included in the survey.RF modelling and performance analysis of gored or faceted mesh reflector antennas are then reviewed. Finally, both on ground and in orbitRF test techniques for large unfurlable antennas are discussed.

Résumé

Une revue des antennes déployables pour satellites est présentée. Après un survol des exigences typiques pour les applications à des missions spatiales futures, les concepts développés aux Etats-Unis et en Europe, utilisant des surfaces à treillis ou gonflables et rendues rigides dans l’espace, sont passées en revue. Les antennes de haute précision utilisant des panneaux ou pétales rigides ne font pas partie de l’étude. Les méthodes de modélisation et d’analyse radioélectrique des antennes à réflecteur déployable à treillis sont ensuite discutées. Finalement, les techniques de mesures au sol et en orbite des antennes déployables sont passées en revue.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. NASA. Large space antenna systems technology 1982.NASA Langley, NASA SP, 7046(07) (May 1983).

  2. *** Large space antenna systems technology 1984.NASA 1985 (N85-23813 and N85-23840).

  3. *** Land-mobile services by satellite.ESA/ESTEC Workshop. Proceedings ESA SP-259 (3–4 June 1986).

  4. Sue (M. K.), Park (Y. K.). A second generation mobile satellite system.AIAA 11th Communication satellite System Conference (1986), pp. 381–389.

  5. Cuccia (C. L.). The evolution of large space antennas.IEEE AP-S International Symposium Digest (1986), pp. 401–403.

  6. Freeland (R. E.), Garcia (N. F.), Iwamoto (H.). Wrap-rib antenna technology development.Op. cit. NASA 1985 (1984), pp. 139–166.

  7. Freeland (R. E.). Survey of deployable antenna concepts.Op. cit. NASA Langley, NASA SP (1982).

  8. Martin Marietta. Near-field testing of the 15-meter model of the hoop column antenna.NASA Contract Report 178059 Contract NAS1-18016 (March 1986).

  9. [Harris Corporation]. Development of the 15 meter diameter hoop column antenna. Final Report.NASA Contract Report 4038, NASA Contract NASI-15763.

  10. [General Dynamics]. Deployable offset reflector antenna for communications satellites.Final Report GDSS-CRAD-86-002,Contract INTEL 230 (Nov. 1986).

  11. Dyer (J. E.), Dudeck (M. P.). Deployable truss structure advanced technology.First NASA/DOD CSI Technology Conference (18–21 Nov. 1986).

  12. Coyner (J. V.). Box-truss development and its applications.Op. cit. NASA 1985 (1984), pp. 213–233.

  13. Batchell (E. E.) et al. Integrated analysis system for box-truss antenna mesh performance.AIAA Sat. Com. Syst. Conf. Proceedings (1986), pp. 411–416.

  14. Archer (J. S.),Palmer (W. B.). Antenna technology for Quasat application.Op. cit. NASA 1985 (1984), pp. 251–277.

  15. Akle (W.). Cable-catenary large antenna concept.Op. cit. NASA 1985 (1984), pp. 271–278.

  16. Friese (G. J.) et al. Initial 80’s development of inflated antennas.NASA Contract NAS1-16663 (Dec. 1982).

  17. Kellermeier (H.), Vorbruog (H.), Pontoppidan (K.). The MBB unfurlable mesh antenna (UMA): design and development.AIAA Sat. Com. Syst. Conf., Proceedings (1986), pp. 417–425.

  18. Labruyere (G.) et al. Mechanical and control study of a 7 m offset unfurlable tracking antenna. To be published (1987).

  19. Bernasconi (M. C.), Reibaldi (G.), Pagana (E.). Inflatable reflectors for satellite mobile communications.CSELT Technical Reports (Dec. 1985), vol. XIII-No. 7, pp. 437–441.

  20. Reibaldi (G.), Hammer (J.), Bernasconi (M. C.), Pagana (E.). Inflatable space rigidized reflector development for land mobile missions.AIAA Com. Sat. Syst. Conf., Proceedings (1986), pp. 533–538.

  21. Reibaldi (G.), Bernasconi (M. C.). Quasat program: the ESA reflector. 36th Congress of the Int. Astronautical Federation (Oct. 1985).

  22. Kontorovitch (M. I.). Averaged boundary conditions at the surface of a grating with square mesh.Radio Engineering (1962).

  23. Astrakhan (M. I.). Averaged boundary conditions on the surface of a lattice with rectangular cells.Radio Engineering (1964), vol. 9.

  24. Astrakhan (M. I.). Reflecting and screening properties of plane wire grids.Radio Engineering (1968), vol. 23.

  25. Pontoppidan (K.). Study of offset unfurlable antennas-electrical design aspects.TICRA Report 5-144-01 (July 1981).

  26. Schaefer (W.), Herbig (H.), Roederer (A.), Pontoppidan (K.). Unfurlable offset antenna design for L-and C-Band applications.AIAA Com. Sat. Syst. Conf., Proceedings (1982), pp. 30–36.

  27. Dumont (P.), Combes (P.). Study of reflection by metallic mesh.Int. URSI Symp., Santiago de Compostella, Spain (23–26 Aug. 1983).

  28. Dumont (P.). Modélisation radioélectrique des antennes à réflecteur déployable. Thèse Doc. Ing., ENSAE, Toulouse, Fr (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Diffraction analysis of mesh deployable reflector antennas.Op. cit. NASA 1985 (1984), pp. 715–736.

  30. Rahmat-Samii (Y.), Lee (S. W.). Vector diffraction analysis of reflector antennas with mesh surfaces.IEEE Trans. AP (Jan. 1985),33, pp. 76–90.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wu (T. K.). Electrical performance evaluation for reflecting mesh.IEEE AP-S International Symposium Digest (1986), pp. 985–988.

  32. Ingerson (P. G.), Wong (W. C.). The analysis of deployable umbrella parabolic reflectors.IEEE Trans. AP 20, no 4, pp. 409–414.

  33. Imbriale (W. A.), Ingerson (P. G.), Wong (W. C.). Experimental verification of the analysis of umbrella parabolic reflectors.IEEE Trans. AP (Sept. 1973), pp. 705–708.

  34. Imbriale (W A.), Rusch (W. V. T). Scalar analysis of non-symmetrically distorted umbrella reflector.IEEE Trans. AP (Jan. 1974), pp. 112–114.

  35. Rusch (W. V. T), Wanselow (R. D.). Boresight gain loss and gore-related sidelobes of an umbrella reflector.IEEE Trans. AP (Jan. 1982), pp. 153–157.

  36. Cockrell (C. R.), Rudduck (R. C.). Electromagnetic analysis for surface tolerance effects on large antennas.Op. cit. (N85-23813 and N85-23840) (1984), pp. 655–673.

  37. Lee (T. H.), Rudduck (R. C.), Bailey (M. C.). Pattern calculations of reflector antennas with surface errors.IEEE AP-S Int. Symp. Digest (1987), pp. 764–767.

  38. Prata (A.)Jr.,Rusch (W. V. T.). Radiation properties of the optimized offset-fed radial rib umbrella reflector antenna.IEEE Trans. AP (Aug. 1987),35, no 8, pp. 977–980.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lizius (D.), Olver (A. D.). Radiation characteristics of offset radial rib reflector antennas.5th Int. Conf. on Antennas and Prop., ICAP 87, Proceedings, pp. 319–327.

  40. Pontoppidan (K.). Reflector surface tolerance effects.IEEE AP-S Int. Symp. Digest (1986), pp. 413–416.

  41. Rahmat-Samii (Y). Large antenna measurement and compensation techniques.11th ESTEC Antenna Workshop on antenna measurements (June 1988), pp. 57–68.

  42. Bennet (J.C.). Recent developments in near-field antenna measurements.IEEE Fifth International Conference on Antennas and Propagation,ICAP87, York, U.K. (Apr. 1987), pp. 476–472.

  43. Johnson (R.C.),et al. Compact range techniques and measurements.IEEE Trans. AP (Sept. 1969),17, pp. 568–576.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Microwave holographic metrology for antenna diagnosis.IEEE AP, Newsletter (June 1987),29, pp. 5–16.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Fraser (C.F.). Photogrammetric measurement of antenna reflectors.AMTA meeting, Seattle, Washington (Sept. 1987), pp. 374– 379.

  46. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Effects of deterministic surface distortions on reflector antenna performance.Ann. Télécommunic (1985),40, no 7–8, pp. 350–360.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Vector diffraction analysis of reflector antennas with mesh surfaces.IEEE Trans. AP (Jan. 1985),33, pp. 76–90.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Rahmat-Samii (Y.), Cheung (R.). Nonuniform sampling techniques for antenna applications.IEEE Trans. AP (Jan. 1985),35, pp. 268–279.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Rahmat-Samii (Y.), Gatti (M.). Far-field patterns of spaceborne antennas from plane-polar near-field measurements. (1985),33, pp. 638–648.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). A combined scanning configuration for near-field antenna measurements.NASA Tech. Brief (1986),10, no 5, pp. 44–45.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Bolomey (J. Ch.) et al. Reduction of near-field techniques duration.AMTA Meeting (Sept. 1986).

  52. Godwin (M. P.) et al. Improvement of the Effelsberg 100 meter telescope based on holographic reflector surface measurement.Astron. Astrophys. (1986),167, pp. 390–394.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Mayer (C. E.) et al. A holographic surface measurement of the Texas 4.9-meter antenna at 86 GHz.IEEE Trans. IM (1983),32, pp. 102–109.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Microwave holography of large reflector antennas — Simulation algorithms.IEEE Trans. AP (1985),33, pp. 1194–1203. (See minor corrections in vol. AP-34, pp. 853-1986).

    Google Scholar 

  55. Cheung (R.), Rahmat-Samii (Y.). Experimental verification of nonuniform sampling technique for antenna far-field construction.Electromagnetics (1986),6, no 4, pp. 277–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Rudge (A. W.), Davies (D. E. N.). Electronically controllable primary feed for profile-error compensation of large parabolic reflectors.Proc. IEEE (1970), no 117, pp. 351–358.

  57. Rahmat-Samii (Y). A generalized reflector/array surface compensation algorithm for gain and sidelobe control.IEEE AP-S Symposium, Blacksburg, VA (June 15–19, 1987).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Esa/estec, NL 2200 AG Noordwijk, Pays-Bas

    Antoine G. Roederer

  2. EE Department, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Ca 91109 USA, UCLA, 90024, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Yahia Rahmat-samii

Authors
  1. Antoine G. Roederer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yahia Rahmat-samii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roederer, A.G., Rahmat-samii, Y. Unfurlable satellite antennas: A review. Ann. Télécommun. 44, 475–488 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02995012

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02995012

Key words

Mots clés

Search

Navigation