A Hybrid Inflatable Dish Antenna System for Spacecraft

Inflatable communication antennas are the subject of current space research because of their potential for enabling high-bit-rates. However, a significant problem associated with inflatable technology is the " all-or-nothing " scenario, where success of the mission depends on successful deployment of the antenna. For this reason, few satellite programs are willing to take the risk of using an inflatable unless it is mission enabling. The Hybrid Inflatable Antenna, a concept developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and ILC Dover, addresses the risk by providing a backup capability within the inflatable dish. This system combines a fixed parabolic dish with an inflatable reflector annulus that greatly increases antenna area. For example a 1-meter diameter dish can be increased to 4-meter resulting in a 16X improvement in reflector surface. A dual feed ensures operation of the smaller fixed dish throughout the mission providing a " risk buffer " to the inflated dish. The inflatable annulus is stowed compactly under the fixed dish prior to launch to fit a variety of spacecraft and launch vehicle envelopes. Moderate gas pressure deploys the annulus and support tubes. A prototype Hybrid Inflatable Antenna has been successfully fabricated and tested. This scale model demonstrates that a highly accurate inflatable Ka band reflector surface can be achieved and that large inflatable surface distortions can be minimized.

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