A deployable antenna system for deployment in an extraterrestrial environment is provided, the deployable antenna system comprising a deployment mechanism including one or more extendable support structures comprising at least one axial support structure adapted to extend in a z-direction parallel to a z-axis in the deployable antenna system and a deployable antenna attached to the one or more extendable support structures and adapted to be stowed in an undeployed state and to be unfurled into a deployed state by the deployment mechanism, the deployable antenna being further adapted to extend and unfurl during deployment from the deployment mechanism in the z-direction responsive to extension of the at least one axial support structure, the deployable antenna including one or more flexible membranes coupled to the at least one axial support structure and extending from the z-axis in the deployed state.

An antenna system, comprising: an omni-directional antenna element; and a directional adapter having an electromagnetic reflector. The directional adapter detachably coupled to the omni-directional antenna element. The electromagnetic reflector being offset from the omni-directional antenna element. The directional adapter may be configured to be coupled to the antenna to convert a radiation pattern from an omni-directional antenna radiation pattern to a directional antenna radiation pattern, and configured to be decoupled from the antenna to convert the radiation pattern back into the omni-directional antenna radiation pattern.

An antenna system, comprising: an omni-directional antenna element; and a directional adapter having an electromagnetic reflector. The directional adapter detachably coupled to the omni-directional antenna element. The electromagnetic reflector being offset from the omni-directional antenna element. The directional adapter may be configured to be coupled to the antenna to convert a radiation pattern from an omni-directional antenna radiation pattern to a directional antenna radiation pattern, and configured to be decoupled from the antenna to convert the radiation pattern back into the omni-directional antenna radiation pattern.