Deployable and light-weight array antennas for space application

Summary form only given. Deployable array antenna using inflatable or thin-membrane structure has been identified as one of the enabling technologies to achieve low-mass, high packaging efficiency, low cost, and reliable deployment for future NASA/JPL spaceborne high-gain and large aperture antennas. Several technology challenges, such as rigidizable inflatable tubes, controlled deployment mechanism, thin-membrane thermal effect, low-mass inflation system, membrane mounted T/R modules, etc. are being investigated and are discussed.