Abstract
The next generation of geo-stationary mobile communication satellites will, most likely, use large flexible planar antennas. For this reason there is a strong interest in using very thin, membrane type planar surfaces together with inflatable support structures for such antennas. Unfortunately, existing membrane materials would yield excessively heavy antennas. This paper proposes the use of a mesh-type membrane based on a triaxial woven fabric using PBO (poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) fibers to realize extremely lightweight antennas. A circular test membrane which diameter is 1.5 m is constructed and assessed to be mounted on an inflatable torus. Triaxial woven fabrics reinforced with plastic are used as the planar membrane structures. Two types of inflatable torus and the planar membrane structures are fabricated, and their surface accuracy is measured. The results of this study show that the surface accuracy of the membrane is clarified under the various pressure conditions of the inflatable torus and that the proposed membrane can be used for planar antenna structures.
