When Deployable Spacecraft Antennas Don’t

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore possibilities for continued use of certain deployable spacecraft antennas when full deployment fails. Four (4) deployables are used as examples, including 1) a reflectarray, 2) a parabolic reflector, 3) a loop, and 4) a set of 4 monopoles. The measure of “continued usability” in each case is relative antenna gain as a function of partial deployment. Note, types (and levels) of partial deployment presented here are strictly hypothetical. Also, discussions of actual deployment mechanisms are considered outside the scope of this paper.