This invention concerns a multibeam antenna with adjustable pointing, comprising a single reflection arrangement and a plurality of radiating sources arranged opposite the reflection arrangement and suited to emit and/or receive radiofrequency (RF) signals, the reflection arrangement defining a centre, a focal plane, and a focal point located on the focal plane.

The antenna is characterised in that at least one of the radiating sources (mobile source) is movable substantially independently of the or each other radiating source on a scanning surface to adjust the pointing of the antenna, wherein the scanning surface coincides with the focal plane or is tangential to it at the focal point.

A corner reflector includes annular balloons, which, when gas is supplied to the inside, annularly expand, and radio wave reflective films each developed to a plane by the expansion of the annular balloons. The three annular balloons are provided so as to be orthogonal to each other in the expansion. A constraint fabric wound around each annular balloon is provided. The constraint fabric includes an inner peripheral side fabric portion located on the side of a virtual central axis of the annular balloon and extending in the annular direction around the virtual central axis, and an outer peripheral side fabric portion located on the side opposite to the virtual central axis and extending in the annular direction. The elongation degree of the outer peripheral side fabric portion in the annular direction is higher than the elongation degree of the inner peripheral side fabric portion in the annular direction.

A corner reflector includes annular balloons, which, when gas is supplied to the inside, annularly expand, and radio wave reflective films each developed to a plane by the expansion of the annular balloons. The three annular balloons are provided so as to be orthogonal to each other in the expansion. A constraint fabric wound around each annular balloon is provided. The constraint fabric includes an inner peripheral side fabric portion located on the side of a virtual central axis of the annular balloon and extending in the annular direction around the virtual central axis, and an outer peripheral side fabric portion located on the side opposite to the virtual central axis and extending in the annular direction. The elongation degree of the outer peripheral side fabric portion in the annular direction is higher than the elongation degree of the inner peripheral side fabric portion in the annular direction.

Reflector antenna system includes a hoop assembly comprising a plurality of link elements which are rigid and extend between a plurality of hinge members, the hoop assembly expandable between a collapsed condition where the link elements are substantially parallel to one another and an expanded condition wherein the link elements define a circumferential hoop around a central axis. The hoop assembly defines a plurality of N rectangular sides, each comprised of an X-member including first and a second link element in a crossed configuration. A plurality of tension elements extend around the periphery of the side and apply tension between opposing ends of the first and second link elements in directions aligned with the top, bottom and two opposing sides.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

Spacecraft and antenna apparatus that can be more easily deployed from a stored state can include: a main-reflection unit including a plurality of ribs formed to be deployable in a stored state in which the ribs are folded and a sheet body provided between a plurality of the ribs and configured to be capable of reflecting a radio wave radiated from a radiator and emitting the radio wave outside, and a restriction member configured to restrict deployment of the plurality of ribs in the stored state, and release the restriction by operation of a restriction release member different from the main-reflection unit.

Spacecraft and antenna apparatus that can be more easily deployed from a stored state can include: a main-reflection unit including a plurality of ribs formed to be deployable in a stored state in which the ribs are folded and a sheet body provided between a plurality of the ribs and configured to be capable of reflecting a radio wave radiated from a radiator and emitting the radio wave outside, and a restriction member configured to restrict deployment of the plurality of ribs in the stored state, and release the restriction by operation of a restriction release member different from the main-reflection unit.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.