Large shell-membrane space reflectors

Large deployable reflectors (LDRs) which have been flown in orbit use mainly metal meshes as a reflecting surface (RS), although stiffer surface versions of LDRs have been also flown. Such are largely deformable shell reflectors and solid surface reflectors. These LDRs are only moderately foldable because of the high surface stiffness therefore they can be used up to limited, say, 5-8 m diameters. A new reflecting surface material has been developed at the Technische Universität München during the last decade. The material includes carbon fibers which reinforce a silicone (CFRS) elastomer. This type of the reflecting surface falls between the metal meshes and largely deformable shells according to the stiffness. The reflecting surface formed by this material has been called a shell-membrane. Extensive numerical, experimental and technology investigations in shell-membrane antenna reflector technology (SMART) resulted in a family of large shell-membrane reflectors which are presented and discussed in this paper along with the relevant major thermo-mechanical and RF properties of the reflecting surface.