Session
Advanced Technologies 3
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
Space-based telecommunications and remote sensing increasingly demand large-aperture antennas capable of operating at high frequencies, specifically Ka-band and above. While inflatable membrane structures offer the low mass and compact stowage necessary to deploy large reflectors in excess of two meters from small satellite platforms, their adoption has been hindered by the difficulty of maintaining precise surface geometry. To establish a viable pathway for these high-frequency applications, the University of Arizona and Freefall Aerospace have developed a hybrid tensioning and deployment mechanism, validated on a one-meter lenticular reflector. This system decouples boundary tension from internal pressure, using a novel adaptive pre-tensioning and passive elastic compensation to strictly control the reflector's curvature and surface figure. To rigorously characterize the shape precision and repeatability of this architecture, we have conducted extensive metrology campaigns utilizing Phase Measuring Deflectometry (PMD) and photogrammetry. These measurements, performed in both ambient and thermal-vacuum environments, provide high-fidelity surface data essential for validating RF performance and surface precision down to 0.1 mm RMS and below, enabling multiple high-frequency applications. The results confirm that the hybrid mechanical-pneumatic approach yields a stable, repeatable shape significantly more uniform than pressure-only systems. This metrology data is currently being used to design corrective optics, further mitigating residual surface errors to maximize gain and minimize side lobes. Building on this validated framework, a high-altitude stratospheric demonstration of the unit is underway. We also develop a derivative design concept that scales this architecture to several meters to meet the stringent requirements of deep-space communication. By leveraging adaptive mechanical boundary control rather than relying solely on gas pressure, this work demonstrates a robust solution for deploying large, high-frequency apertures from compact spacecraft.
Document Type
Event
Presentation
A Hybrid Architecture for Scalable High-Frequency Inflatable Reflectors for Small Satellites
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Space-based telecommunications and remote sensing increasingly demand large-aperture antennas capable of operating at high frequencies, specifically Ka-band and above. While inflatable membrane structures offer the low mass and compact stowage necessary to deploy large reflectors in excess of two meters from small satellite platforms, their adoption has been hindered by the difficulty of maintaining precise surface geometry. To establish a viable pathway for these high-frequency applications, the University of Arizona and Freefall Aerospace have developed a hybrid tensioning and deployment mechanism, validated on a one-meter lenticular reflector. This system decouples boundary tension from internal pressure, using a novel adaptive pre-tensioning and passive elastic compensation to strictly control the reflector's curvature and surface figure. To rigorously characterize the shape precision and repeatability of this architecture, we have conducted extensive metrology campaigns utilizing Phase Measuring Deflectometry (PMD) and photogrammetry. These measurements, performed in both ambient and thermal-vacuum environments, provide high-fidelity surface data essential for validating RF performance and surface precision down to 0.1 mm RMS and below, enabling multiple high-frequency applications. The results confirm that the hybrid mechanical-pneumatic approach yields a stable, repeatable shape significantly more uniform than pressure-only systems. This metrology data is currently being used to design corrective optics, further mitigating residual surface errors to maximize gain and minimize side lobes. Building on this validated framework, a high-altitude stratospheric demonstration of the unit is underway. We also develop a derivative design concept that scales this architecture to several meters to meet the stringent requirements of deep-space communication. By leveraging adaptive mechanical boundary control rather than relying solely on gas pressure, this work demonstrates a robust solution for deploying large, high-frequency apertures from compact spacecraft.
