Membrane lens antennas with electromagnetically-coupled layers

Many spacecraft applications call for a deployable antenna which is capable of generating a fairly narrow beam, and which can be realised with an inexpensive, low mass construction. The membrane lens antenna [1] is well suited to applications of this type. Thus, when an antenna aperture is fabricated on one or more planar membranes, a very light-weight structure results. Furthermore, a simple mechanism such as an assembly of telescoping tubes can be introduced to provide deployment [2]. The folded lens assembly can be stowed in a small canister. Deployment is achieved by tensioning wires which emanate from the membrane corners, the outer membrane edges then taking on catenary shapes.