A window/seal and a satellite ground station antenna using the window/seal. A window/seal for a circular waveguide includes a right-circular cylindrical window having an axis, an annular recess surrounding and coaxial with the cylindrical window, and an annular rib surrounding and coaxial with the annular recess. An outer diameter of the annular rib is configured to fit closely within an inside diameter of the circular waveguide.

An apparatus, for example a multi-band radio frequency antenna system, comprising: a primary reflector, for example a parabolic reflector; and a near-field feed arrangement comprising: a multi-band waveguide feed comprising a first waveguide feed for a first frequency band and a second waveguide feed for a second frequency band separate to the first frequency band, wherein the first waveguide feed and the second waveguide feed are co-axial and have, respectively, a first aperture and a second aperture; and a splashplate located within the near-field of the first waveguide feed, located within the near field of the second waveguide feed and configured as a feed for the primary reflector.

Deployable tile aperture devices, systems, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a device that may include multiple aperture tiles that may be coupled with each other such the multiple aperture tiles have a stacked stowed configuration and a flat deployed configuration. Some embodiments include one or more tension chords configured to deploy the multiple aperture tiles when tension is applied to the one or more tension chords. The flat deployed configuration may include at least one side edge portion of each aperture tile from the multiple aperture tiles making contact with another side edge portion of another aperture tile from the multiple aperture tiles. The flat deployed configuration may form one or more continuous face surfaces formed from the multiple aperture tiles. The one or more tension chords may pass through at least a portion of one or more of the multiple aperture tiles.

Apparatus comprising at least one reflective surface configured to reflect electromagnetic waves, wherein a reflective response of at least one portion of said reflective surface with respect to said electromagnetic waves is electronically controllable, wherein said apparatus is configured to at least temporarily control said reflective response of said at least one portion of said reflective surface.

A mechanism to connect first and second circular waveguides. A first member includes two or more pins extending radially from a body, the first waveguide coaxial with the body and terminating at a first port at an end face of the body. A second member has a cavity coaxial with the second waveguide and configured to fit over the first member, the second waveguide terminating at a second port within the cavity. Slots disposed around a perimeter of the cavity engage the two or more pins. A cap fits over the second member, the cap including L-shaped slots to engage the two or more pins extending through the slots of the second connecting member. A wave spring between an inside surface of the cap and a shoulder of the second member urges the second port towards the first port when the cap is engaged with the two or more pins.

A rotatable reflectarray antenna system and methods for reconfiguring electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of the reflectarray antenna are provided. The rotatable reflectarray antenna includes a plurality of rotatable reflecting units coupled with each other; and an actuator system coupled with the plurality of rotatable reflecting units and configured to rotate the reflecting units with respect to axes of the reflecting units. Each rotatable reflecting unit includes a substrate and a plurality of reflectarray patterns disposed on surfaces of the substrate and each reflectarray pattern includes a plurality of reflectarray elements. The actuator system is configured to rotate the plurality of reflecting units to different operational positions such that when layout of the plurality of reflectarray patterns on the plurality of reflecting unit is changed, at least one EM characteristic of the reflectarray antenna is reconfigured.

A satellite antenna heating system, includes a satellite antenna reflector defining a reflector fluid chamber and that includes a reflector wall. The reflector wall includes a first surface that is located adjacent the reflector fluid chamber, and a second surface that is located opposite the reflector wall from the first surface and provides an outer surface of the satellite antenna reflector, wherein the reflector fluid chamber is configured to channel a fluid through at least a portion of the satellite antenna reflector.

Deployable reflector antenna includes a fabrication hub in which at least one additive fabrication unit disposed. The additive fabrication unit is configured to form at least one rigid structural element of a reflector antenna system. In a stowed condition, an RF reflector material comprised of a flexible webbing is disposed in a stowed configuration proximate to the fabrication hub. A fabrication control system controls the additive fabrication unit so as to form the at least one rigid structural element. The RF reflector material is arranged to transition during the additive fabrication process from the stowed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is furled compactly at the fabrication hub, to a deployed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is unfurled.

A satellite antenna heating system, includes a satellite antenna reflector defining a reflector fluid chamber and that includes a reflector wall. The reflector wall includes a first surface that is located adjacent the reflector fluid chamber, and a second surface that is located opposite the reflector wall from the first surface and provides an outer surface of the satellite antenna reflector, wherein the reflector fluid chamber is configured to channel a fluid through at least a portion of the satellite antenna reflector.

Deployable reflector antenna includes a fabrication hub in which at least one additive fabrication unit disposed. The additive fabrication unit is configured to form at least one rigid structural element of a reflector antenna system. In a stowed condition, an RF reflector material comprised of a flexible webbing is disposed in a stowed configuration proximate to the fabrication hub. A fabrication control system controls the additive fabrication unit so as to form the at least one rigid structural element. The RF reflector material is arranged to transition during the additive fabrication process from the stowed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is furled compactly at the fabrication hub, to a deployed configuration in which the flexible webbing material is unfurled.