High accuracy deployable antenna for communications satellite

High frequency multi-beam satellite antennas have been studied to realize increased communication capacity, simplified earth stations, and multiple frequency reuse. The satellite antenna needs a highly accurate and large reflector. To overcome the launching vehicle's constraints in size and weight, a solid deployable antenna is under development. A petal antenna (PETAL), composed of solid shell elements, has been studied as a high frequency use deployable antenna. It is an axi-symmetric antenna composed of a fixed central shell and deployable triangular and square shells. During the launch phase, a restraining cable is bound around the periphery of deployable elements stowed in a hexagonal configuration. Deployment is initiated by pyrotechnic cable cutters, and the shells are deployed by spring action.