Trade-Off on Large Deployable Membrane Antennas

Abstract

As the current discussions on climate changes suggest, the need for understanding the occurrences on our planet is given. To monitor indicators of global change like glaciers, polar caps, ocean currents or vegetation distribution, space-borne low frequency SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites are feasible tools to realize such monitoring. For low frequency antennas, apertures of high area are necessary to guaranty a sufficient antenna gain. Using traditional mani-fold structures, the over all weight and packed size of such antenna becomes very high and, therefore, the orbit transfer will increase the mission costs markedly. To provide a very light antenna that needs a minimum of cargo volume in packed configuration, the DLR in coopera-tion with ESA is elaborating a study on VERY LARGE STABLE MEMBRANE ANTENNA ARCHITECTURES. Beside these simple physical requirements, objectives regarding out of plane accuracy and dynamic performance shall be design driving items. The following pages draw first considerations on possible mission scenarios, present the so far developed designs and show results of membrane wrinkling analysis and tests.