Spacecraft with active antenna array protected against temperature extremes

摘要

A spacecraft carries a deployable active antenna array panel(s) and a deployable solar array panel(s). In the stowed condition, the antenna array panel(s) is sandwiched between a side of the body of the spacecraft and the solar array panel(s). This stowed state prevents the antenna panels from becoming too cold by radiation, or too hot by insolation, in an intermediate orbit. The outermost solar panel preferably has its active surface facing outward, so that it can generate electricity in the intermediate orbit.