Session
Technical Session VII: Communications
Abstract
MMA Design (MMA) has invented and is developing a revolutionary deployable antenna solution providing extremely high areal compaction for future microsatellite missions. Our solution combines the positive attributes of currently fielded antenna systems and will enable performance for microsatellites consistent with today’s large space craft payloads. The MMA patented and patent pending Deployable High Gain Reflectarray (DaHGR) antenna has both a wideband and a narrower band configuration. The antenna architecture is realized using very lightweight flexible membrane substrates incorporating a hoop structure to deploy the membranes and maintain tension. The proposed solution builds on innovations by MMA in extremely lightweight deployable systems specific to large antennas and aerobraking systems.
Current state-of-the-art (SOA) Mesh Antennas use ribbed umbrella and hoop structures for deployment. While these are potentially scalable to some extent, they inherently have high parts count and require significant touch labor at a high number of attach points to form the desired mesh surface. These systems have constraints on their stowed volume which present challenges with small launch vehicle fairings and dispensers. The DaHGR sets a new standard for deployable antennas with 1/3rd the parts count, less than 1/5th the volume (with a more favorable/flexible aspect ratio), and ó the cost of current SOA deployable antennas.
The DaHGR antenna solution combines the best attributes of successfully flown solutions. It offers advantages in performance, compaction, and simplicity and significantly reduces the development and implementation risk by leveraging proven technologies. A large space-fed reflectarray provides equivalent performance as a conventional reflector for all missions not requiring extremely large bandwidth. Bandwidths achievable by reflectarrays easily support a multitude of mission requirements.
A Scalable Deployable High Gain Antenna - DaHGR
MMA Design (MMA) has invented and is developing a revolutionary deployable antenna solution providing extremely high areal compaction for future microsatellite missions. Our solution combines the positive attributes of currently fielded antenna systems and will enable performance for microsatellites consistent with today’s large space craft payloads. The MMA patented and patent pending Deployable High Gain Reflectarray (DaHGR) antenna has both a wideband and a narrower band configuration. The antenna architecture is realized using very lightweight flexible membrane substrates incorporating a hoop structure to deploy the membranes and maintain tension. The proposed solution builds on innovations by MMA in extremely lightweight deployable systems specific to large antennas and aerobraking systems.
Current state-of-the-art (SOA) Mesh Antennas use ribbed umbrella and hoop structures for deployment. While these are potentially scalable to some extent, they inherently have high parts count and require significant touch labor at a high number of attach points to form the desired mesh surface. These systems have constraints on their stowed volume which present challenges with small launch vehicle fairings and dispensers. The DaHGR sets a new standard for deployable antennas with 1/3rd the parts count, less than 1/5th the volume (with a more favorable/flexible aspect ratio), and ó the cost of current SOA deployable antennas.
The DaHGR antenna solution combines the best attributes of successfully flown solutions. It offers advantages in performance, compaction, and simplicity and significantly reduces the development and implementation risk by leveraging proven technologies. A large space-fed reflectarray provides equivalent performance as a conventional reflector for all missions not requiring extremely large bandwidth. Bandwidths achievable by reflectarrays easily support a multitude of mission requirements.
