An antenna system for satellite applications is provide, the antenna system comprising an antenna array and a feed structure, and the antenna array is a passive antenna array configured to have a first state and a second state, the second state being a first deployed state. The feed structure is configured to provide a linearly polarized incident field for the antenna array in the first deployed state. The antenna array comprises a plurality of array elements, and the plurality of array elements forms a polarization conversion surface configured for converting the linearly polarized incident field to a reflected/transmitted circular polarized field. The antenna array is configured so that the radiation pattern of the reflected/transmitted circular polarized field corresponds to a predetermined radiation pattern and an array element geometry and an array element position of each of the plurality array elements are configured to provide the predetermined radiation pattern.

A mesh structure is a knitted fabric or woven fabric including element wires of a zirconium copper fiber or element wires of a stainless steel fiber.

Antenna reflectors having a diameter of 10 or more meters include dimensionally and thermally stable deformable composite reflective material that enables efficient packaging of solid surface segmented reflectors and a folding scheme and architecture that enables self-deployment to support S-band and above RF (2 GHz) transmissions.

Antenna reflectors having a diameter of 10 or more meters include dimensionally and thermally stable deformable composite reflective material that enables efficient packaging of solid surface segmented reflectors and a folding scheme and architecture that enables self-deployment to support S-band and above RF (2 GHz) transmissions.

Self-deploying reflector array architectures include stacked multiple panels attached to a central panel by sets of heat actuated flexible hinges on their non-functional sides create surface of revolution, cylindrical and flat reflector arrays in accordance with panel curvature. Robotic in-space assembly of multiple smaller arrays allows for creation of reflector array of 10 or more meters to support S-band and above RF (2 GHz) transmission.

Self-deploying reflector array architectures include stacked multiple panels attached to a central panel by sets of heat actuated flexible hinges on their non-functional sides create surface of revolution, cylindrical and flat reflector arrays in accordance with panel curvature. Robotic in-space assembly of multiple smaller arrays allows for creation of reflector array of 10 or more meters to support S-band and above RF (2 GHz) transmission.

A deployable reflector system comprising a support structure and a reflector surface connected to the support structure. The reflector surface comprised of a carbon nanotube elastomer composite with high bending flexibility out-of-plane and a low modulus of elasticity. The support structure configured to transition from a compact stowed configuration to a larger deployed configuration.

A deployable reflector system comprising a support structure and a reflector surface connected to the support structure. The reflector surface comprised of a carbon nanotube elastomer composite with high bending flexibility out-of-plane and a low modulus of elasticity. The support structure configured to transition from a compact stowed configuration to a larger deployed configuration.