Inventors:
Stephen D. Nguyen - Garden Grove CA
Leonard A. Hoey - Rolling Hills CA
Joseph G. Scarangello - Redondo Beach CA
Dean R. Huebert - Simi Valley CA
Mark R. Wilken - El Segundo CA
Assignee:
TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA
International Classification:
H01Q 108
Abstract:
A method and system for deploying a multi-reflector antenna system (10). The antenna system (10) includes an antenna structure (12) mounted to a satellite (14), where an antenna feed array (16) is mounted to the antenna structure (12). A single articulated antenna arm assembly (26) is mounted to the antenna structure (12) by a first spring loaded hinge (28). The arm assembly (26) includes a first arm (30) on which is mounted a first reflector (38), and a second arm (32) on which is mounted a second reflector (40). The first and second arms (30, 32) are connected to each other by a second spring loaded hinge (34) such that the reflectors (38, 40) directly oppose each other and are substantially parallel when the arm assembly (26) is in the stowed position. A plurality of launch locks (44, 46, 50, 54) hold the arm assembly (26) in the stowed position against the bias of the hinges (28, 34) prior to deployment. When the antenna system (10) is ready to be deployed, the launch locks (44, 46, 50, 54) are released in a predetermined sequence such that the arm assembly (26) first moves away from the feed array (16) under the bias of the first hinge (28), and then the second arm (32) moves away from the first arm (30) under the bias of the second hinge (34).