Large antenna deployment

A 5 m-diameter antenna reflector, designed for orbital operations, seen during a test deployment during ESA’s latest Large Deployable Antenna Workshop.

Large-scale antenna reflectors are increasingly required for telecommunications, science and Earth observation missions.  This metal mesh reflector has a ‘double pantograph’ design to form a deployable ring. Once deployed it tensions two opposing, but connected, parabolic shaped nets, one on the top and one on the bottom.