Launching large antennas

Large antennas will provide communication to rural and remote areas in times of need. This is seen as facilitating the work of law enforcement agencies. All mobile radio communications will enjoy advantages in distances covered and information relayed owing to the large number of beams possible from super radio transmitters in space. If the antennas are placed in low-earth orbit, advantages will be realized in the remote sensing of the earth's resources. It is pointed out that with umbrella or bicyclelike antennas turned outward toward space, the universe could be scouted for signals from intelligent life. Various concepts that have been put forward by U.S. companies are described. These include the radial rib, wrap rib, and parabolic erectable truss designs. Others are the mesh hoop column collapsable umbrella made of gold and molybdenum and the maypole design.