Abstract
A large deployable mesh reflector is essential to an on-board antenna for communications satellites using handheld terminals. The reflector must be lightweight to ensure reliable deployment. In this paper, we describe the structural design and deployment test methods of a large deployable mesh reflector. The lightweight design and an aperture diameter of 10 m are achieved by satisfying advanced structural requirements. A deploying control mechanism is utilized for deployment reliability. Six mechanisms can easily control the deployment of the 19-module full-scale reflector. The deploying force of the truss structure, resisting the mesh reaction force, is described. We confirm by both analysis and experiments that sufficient deployment energy is generated by the coil springs equipped on the bars. A deployment test configuration using a magnetically suspended slider system is also proposed. Three-dimensional deployment tests for a large reflector can be conducted using this deployment test system. Finally, a suspension method simulating microgravity conditions is presented. The optimal suspension method is determined by its gravity canceling ability.
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