Flexible Surface Reflector Antenna for Small Satellites

Abstract

A novel deployable reflector antenna for small satellites has been designed, fabricated, and experimentally validated. The reflector utilizes a doubly curved flexible surface manufactured from a triaxially woven fabric-reinforced silicone (TWFS) composite. By leveraging high-strain composite materials, the design enables a highly compact stowed configuration while maintaining precise surface accuracy upon deployment. The deployment mechanism is proposed to accommodate a 0.6 m diameter parabolic reflector within a minimal stowed volume, optimizing space efficiency for satellite integration. To validate this concept, a prototype of the reflector antenna has been fabricated and demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.