Novel Metrology Solutions for Space Based Antennas

Future missions requiring the use of space-based antenna arrays will require these systems to reach farther and have higher reliability than ever before to ensure mission success. Therefore, future satellite deployable arrays will need to be larger and have lower operational downtimes but without breaking launch vehicle limits. Larger arrays will therefore need to sacrifice structural stability in favor of weight-saving material, but this will cause deformations due to natural vibrational modes that will severely impact the array's signal coherence in flight. This proposal details EMA's investigation into methods that will restore the array's radiation pattern when the deformations occur as well as methods to quantify the deformations with a sensor configuration in conjunction with numerical methods. The results of the Phase I effort, which include antenna performance simulations and a basic hardware demonstration with excellent accuracy for a proof-of-concept effort, have positioned EMA and their strategic partner Dynovas for further development of the system into a real time correction metrology prototype in the Phase II effort. The Phase II effort will involve the development of deformable array prototypes to test the metrology system, analysis of a representative large space-based structure, recreation of modal deformations observed in this analysis, and characterization of the accuracy and effectiveness of the metrology system and correction methods.