Satellites - Communications: Inflatable Antennas

In May 1996, NASA tested a new experimental antenna which inflates once in orbit
The antenna is made of Mylar and supported by three inflatable struts 28 metres long
The antenna is 15 metres in diameter, about the size of a tennis court
It looks like a flat parachute, or a round trampoline on an upside down tripod, depending on your point of view
The experimental antenna inflated from the Spartan satellite automatically when nitrogen gas flowed through it
At $14 million, inflatable antennas are much cheaper than conventional mechanical ones
Because they are made out of the material Mylar, they are also much lighter, which makes them easier to launch into space
They are more reliable and easier to assemble than mechanical antennas because they have fewer moving parts
Engineers are still researching these antennas

Produced by Galactics.
Comments: galactics@spacesim.org.
Last updated on: 8 August 1997.