Space antenna having deployable, steerable antennas and related methods
A deployable space antenna may include a housing and a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position. Each of the first and second telescoping booms may include telescoping boom segments. Each of a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas is carried by respective telescoping boom segment and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. An antenna controller is configured to steer the deployable, steerable antennas.
1 . A deployable space antenna comprising:
a housing;
a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, each deployable, steerable antenna comprising an individually steerable reflector and a feed associated therewith; and
an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
2 . The deployable space antenna of claim 1 , comprising at least one actuator configured to mechanically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.
3 . The deployable space antenna of claim 1 , wherein the feed comprises a phased array antenna feed configured to electronically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.
4 . The deployable space antenna of claim 3 , wherein the phased array antenna feed comprises a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements carried by the substrate.
5 . The deployable space antenna of claim 1 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
an extendable support carried by a respective telescoping boom segment; and
an extendable hoop surrounding the extendable support.
6 . The deployable space antenna of claim 5 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a front cord arrangement coupled to the extendable hoop and defining a curved shape in a deployed position; and
a reflective layer carried by the front cord arrangement defining the individually steerable reflector.
7 . The deployable space antenna of claim 6 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendable hoop and the extendable support; and
a plurality of tie cords extending between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement.
8 . The deployable space antenna of claim 1 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of steerable, deployable antennas are arranged in a staggered relation defining overlapping antenna patterns.
9 . A deployable space antenna comprising:
a housing;
a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
each deployable, steerable antenna comprising
an extendable support carried by a respective telescoping boom segment,
an extendable hoop surrounding the extendable support, and
at least one actuator coupled to the extendable support to mechanically steer the deployable, steerable antenna; and
an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
10 . The deployable space antenna of claim 9 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a front cord arrangement coupled to the extendable hoop and defining a curved shape in a deployed position; and
a reflective layer carried by the front cord arrangement.
11 . The deployable space antenna of claim 10 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendable hoop and the extendable support; and
a plurality of tie cords extending between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement.
12 . The deployable space antenna of claim 10 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of steerable, deployable antennas are arranged in a staggered relation defining overlapping antenna patterns.
13 . A method for making a deployable space antenna comprising:
coupling a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom to be extendable from a housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
coupling each of a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas to a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, each deployable, steerable antenna comprising an individually steerable reflector and a feed associated therewith; and
coupling an antenna controller to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising at least one actuator configured to mechanically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the feed comprises a phased array antenna feed configured to electronically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the phased array antenna feed comprises a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements carried by the substrate.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
an extendable support carried by a respective telescoping boom segment; and
an extendable hoop surrounding the extendable support.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a front cord arrangement coupled to the extendable hoop and defining a curved shape in a deployed position; and
a reflective layer carried by the front cord arrangement defining the individually steerable reflector.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises:
a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendable hoop and the extendable support; and
a plurality of tie cords extending between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement.
20 . The method of claim 13 , comprising arranging adjacent ones of the plurality of steerable, deployable antennas in a staggered relation defining overlapping antenna patterns.
21 . A deployable space antenna comprising:
a housing;
a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, adjacent ones of the plurality of steerable, deployable antennas being arranged in a staggered relation defining overlapping antenna patterns; and
an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
22 . The deployable space antenna of claim 21 , wherein each deployable, steerable antenna comprises a reflector and a feed associated therewith.
23 . The deployable space antenna of claim 22 , comprising at least one actuator configured to mechanically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.
24 . The deployable space antenna of claim 22 , wherein the feed comprises a phased array antenna feed configured to electronically steer the deployable, steerable antenna.