Lightweight structures for ultra-large spacecraft antennas - application of inflatable space structures to membrane antennas

摘要

Space inflatable structures are suitable for constructing lightweight and low-cost large space structures. Therefore, inflatable space structures have been studied for solar arrays, sun shields and other large space structures. Furthermore, inflatable space structures for reflector antenna and synthetic aperture radar, which are required high surface accuracy, are also being investigated very actively. In case of applying the inflatable structures to on-board large antennas, correction function of beam direction by phased array antennas is expected to achieve the required beam direction accuracy. This report also describes application of inflatable space structures to membrane antennas with two-dimensional deployment.