Shape control of reconfigurable antenna reflector: Concepts and strategies

Mechanically reshapeable reflectors have the potential for enabling satellite antenna reconfiguration with lower cost, mass, power consumption and thermal dissipation than beam-forming active antenna arrays. This paper addresses two key challenges for the successful implementation of this technology which are the shape definition of the reflector and its on-orbit shape control. A method of shape optimization which simultaneously guarantees performances in terms of the Radio-Frequency pattern on the ground service-area and structural strength and stability is presented. Moreover, the way in which the electro-mechanical nature of the reflector drives the implementation of its shape-control on-orbit is discussed.