A 4 Square Meter High Aspect Ratio X Band Antenna for Small Satellites

Novel technologies are desired to meet evolving demand for remote microwave sensors. Specifically, a large-aperture, active antenna which stows into a compact volume on each spacecraft of a satellite constellation can reduce the number of satellites required to adequately sample a given measurement. Indeed, with a lower satellite count, a significant economic benefit can be realized with the cost savings associated with the corresponding reduced launch burden.MMA Design LLC proposes to advance the state-of-the-artin large-aperture, high-aspect ratio technologies by developing a deployable Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna applicable to a MicroSat form factor using reflectarray rigid panels. The Large Aperture Rigid Antenna (LARA), stows efficiently in an 1800-cm3 volume (30 cm × 30 cm × 20 cm) and reliably deploys forming a 4.5-m2 aperture with a 5.6:1 aspect ratio.