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 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.

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.

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.

An article, integrated device, apparatus and a method for mounting a satellite antenna feed structure to an antenna reflector unit. The device comprises, in combination, a housing associated with the feed structure and a cup mounted to the antenna reflector unit. The housing includes a plurality of members projecting radially therefrom, the members being arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the cup, a resilient gasket lining at least a bottom interior surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cup includes a plurality of inwardly projecting members arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the housing. Upon positioning the housing axially relative to, and in mating engagement with, the cup, engaging the members with and sliding them into receiving ports of the slots, rotating the housing such that the members engage with and slide along the slots, and thereby biasing a mating portion of the housing against the gasket lining, the housing is engaged firmly within the cup.

A reflector antenna, preferably a fixed mesh reflector antenna, and a process for manufacturing the reflector antenna, is disclosed that includes forming a support structure, placing a reflector surface on a mold, attaching the support structure to the reflector surface, measuring the geometry of the reflector surface, adjusting the surface geometry of the reflector if appropriate to obtain improved accuracy for the reflector surface, and fixedly connecting the support structure and the reflector surface. In an embodiment, the antenna reflector system includes a mesh reflector surface, a plurality of spline support elements, a plurality of splines connected to the reflector surface, and a plurality of adjustable spline supports attachable to the spline support elements and the splines, wherein the adjustable spline supports are adjustably repositionable with respect to the spline support elements, and also fixedly connectable to the spline support elements.

A deployable antenna reflector includes a surface cable network formed of a plurality of cables coupled to each other in a mesh pattern. The surface cable network includes at least one rigid rod member that reduces a maximum tensile force caused in the surface cable network.

A deployable antenna reflector includes a surface cable network formed of a plurality of cables coupled to each other in a mesh pattern. The surface cable network includes at least one rigid rod member that reduces a maximum tensile force caused in the surface cable network.

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.

Antenna apparatus and spacecraft to be deployed in a more easily stored state are disclosed. In an example of the disclosed technology, and antenna apparatus includes: 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.