A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

A 2.2M offset antenna includes a reflector hub; a positioner for supporting the reflector hub; a plurality of reflector panels including a first plurality of side panels and a second plurality of side panels, the first plurality of side panels and the second plurality of side panels each being selectively securable to the reflector hub; each side panel of the first plurality of side panels being uniquely sized relative to the other side panels of the first plurality of side panels such that the first plurality of side panels may be nested together in a stacked configuration when separated from reflector hub; and each side panel of the second plurality of side panels being uniquely sized relative to the other side panels of the second plurality of side panels such that the second plurality of side panels may be nested together in a stacked configuration when separated from reflector hub.

[Problem] To provide a spacecraft having a more effective arrangement of amplifiers. [Solution] Provided is a spacecraft comprising: a main body having a housing space for housing an electronic device within; an oscillator configured to output a radio wave including a frequency in a predetermined frequency band; an amplifier disposed on an exterior of the main body so as to be exposed to space and configured to amplify the power of the radio wave output by the oscillator; and an antenna, disposed on the exterior of the main body, for emitting the radio wave to the outside at the power amplified by the amplifier.

A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

A multisegment array-fed reflector antenna includes a feed array consisting of a number of subarrays and a multisegment reflector to reflect multiple beams of the feed array into a number of elevation angles. A support structure couples the multisegment reflector to the feed array. The multisegment reflector includes two or more ring-focus parabolic segments, and each ring-focus parabolic segment is a parabolic surface extending along a circle around the support structure.

A segmented structure comprising at least two panels, one panel referred to as a main panel and at least one panel referred to as a secondary panel, together with at least one unfurling device able to bring a secondary panel into a storage position or into an unfurled position, the unfurling device comprising at least one strip fixed to the secondary panel and connected to the main panel, the strip being elastically preloaded into the storage position thereof so as to unfurl automatically and autonomously when relative movement between the secondary panel and the main panel becomes possible, so as to move the secondary panel.

A multisegment array-fed reflector antenna includes a feed array consisting of a number of subarrays and a multisegment reflector to reflect multiple beams of the feed array into a number of elevation angles. A support structure couples the multisegment reflector to the feed array. The multisegment reflector includes two or more ring-focus parabolic segments, and each ring-focus parabolic segment is a parabolic surface extending along a circle around the support structure.

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.

An antenna having a reflector mounted on a rigid boom uses a line feed or phased array feed to operate in the Ka band with frequencies up to 36 gigahertz while maintaining the ability to operate at frequencies down to L-Band of 1-2 GHz.

A multisegment array-fed reflector antenna includes a feed array consisting of a number of subarrays and a multisegment reflector to reflect multiple beams of the feed array into a number of elevation angles. A support structure couples the multisegment reflector to the feed array. The multisegment reflector includes two or more ring-focus parabolic segments, and each ring-focus parabolic segment is a parabolic surface extending along a circle around the support structure.