Module composition and deployment method on deployable modular-mesh antenna structures

A deployable modular-mesh antenna is the concept behind a large space antenna. To ensure reliable deployment, a synchronously deployable truss structure forming a curved reflector surface has been developed. The proposed antenna's main reflector formed by two types of modules using mesh and cable network maintains a sufficient level of rigidity at deployment and deploys with high reliability. Importance has also been placed on the numerical analyses of cables, the mesh, and the truss structures. The truss structure analysis is based on a non-linear finite element method, rather than on multi-body dynamics, so that elastic motions of all truss members during the deployment can easily be handled.