Rigidizable Antennas - ILC Dover

ILC designed and fabricated the first successful inflatable rigidizable antenna for space application. Rigidization is the process by which a flexible material can be made solid. The goal of the program was to develop a rigidization material and process which could be formed into a parabolic aperture, packed into a small volume, and then deployed and rigidized in space into an accurate reflector. ILC designed and fabricated a 1.2m inflatable reflector and support structure, packed the system into a small volume, deployed it in a thermal vacuum chamber and then characterized its shape accuracy.

Rigidizable reflectors and support structures enable long term use in space without concern of the effects of a penetration to the system. Rigidizable materials can be designed to be near zero CTE and have excellent structural stiffness.