Description
The objective of this activity is to design the antenna mating interface, to develop a reduced scale mock-up of the antenna and central body and to perform dynamic testing (including contact).
Targeted Improvements: Enable in-orbit antenna assembly.
Description:
Future satellites will require narrower beams for significant communications capacity enhancement, but very large solid reflectors do not fit into existing launchers. In-orbit antenna assembly may unlock this leap in performance by enabling the mating oflarger antennas to platforms in low Earth orbit or geostationary orbit. Similar concepts are needed and are being developed for in-orbit servicing. Contact dynamics are very difficult to model, and feasibility demonstration requires implementation of the criticalelements and dynamic testing of the mating or demating process. A breadboard of a guidance, navigation and control systemand mechanism will be designed and manufactured. Dynamic testing will be performed to validate the concept.