Ka and X-Band Relectarray - ILC Dover

ILC worked with JPL to create support structures and deployment mechanisms for their reflectarray antennas. Reflectarrays are planer membranes with etched patch devices that cause the planer membrane to appear as a parabolic reflector to the RF signal. Planarity of the membranes is critical to the success of the antenna and great care was taken to design support structures that were highly accurate, repeatable after multiple deployments, and applied the correct tension to the membrane to achieve the desired dynamic response.

ILC designed and manufactured a 1m X-band inflatable reflectarray tripod support structure, a catenary membrane support and tensioning system. ILC also assembled the etched membranes and developed a spacing system between the patch membrane and ground plane.

ILC designed and manufactured the 3m Ka-band inflatable reflectarray support structure, a catenary membrane support and adjustable tensioning system. ILC also assembled the etched membranes and developed a specialized seaming technique to maintain which helped maintain surface flatness below + 0.3mm and maintained continuity in the ground plane. A specific mass less than 2 kg/m2 (includes inflation system) was achieved. Shape accuracy tuning and testing was conducted at ILC on a specialized fixture. Far Field RF performance testing was conducted at a facility in California.

1m X-Band Inflatable Reflectarray Antenna (Inflation Test and RF Test at JPL)

3m Ka-Band Inflatable Reflectarray Antenna (RF Test and Inflation Test)

3m Ka-Band Inflatable Reflectarray Deployment Sequence