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Inflatable Antenna Technology With Preliminary Shuttle Experiment

Results And Potential Applications

Article · December 1999

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INFLATABLE ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY WITH PRELIMINARY SHUTTLE EXPERIMENT RESULTS AND

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

(I) Robert Freeland, Steven Bard, (2) Gordon Veal, GayleBilyeu, Costa Cassapakis, (3) Thomas Campbell, M. C. Bailey

(1) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA

(2) L’Garde, Inc., Tustin, CA
(3) NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

ABSTRACT of large, flight-quality hardware for a low-cost, high

mechanical-packaging efficiency, low weight, high
This paper describes the status of NASA’s deployment reliability, usable reflector-surface precision,
Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) and a brief discus- and thermal stability in a realistic environment.
sion on potential future applications. The space experi-
ment of a 14-meter diameter reflector antenna was flown The Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) was flown on
and deployed successfully aboard the Space Shuttle, STS- the Space Shuttle, STS-77 and this paper describes the
77, launched May 19, 1996. Since the flight data is still design of the experiment flight hardware and identifies
being processed and reduced, only preliminary results can key areas for each of the subsystems that comprise the
be presented at this time. The development of the IAE experiment system. The IAE configuration is presented in
will be discussed along with the results of ground test Figure 1. Preliminary results of the flight experiment are
measurements which were conducted to determine the presented along with the results of ground measurements
overall mechanical and projected electrical performance of surface accuracy, radiation pattern calculations for the
characteristics of this inflatable concept. Large, space- 14-meter reflector; and potential applications are dis-
deployable antennas are needed for numerous applica- cussed for a future microwave radiometer system for soil
tions which include mobile communications, Earth moisture measurements from low Earth orbit.
remote sensing, and space-based radar systems. Due to
the traditionally high cost to develop and launch such 2.0 EXPERIMENT-SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
large antennas, new technology must be developed which OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS
is cheaper, faster, and better. Inflatable antenna technol-
ogy provides the opportunity to accomplish these objec- The experiment system performance objectives
tives. are: (a) develop large, low cost antenna structure, (b) val-
idate mechanical packaging efficiency, (c) demonst,rate
Keywords: Deployable Antennas, Antenna Measure- deployment reliability on orbit, and (d) measure surface
ments, Space Experiment. precision on orbit. The experiment-system functional
equirements are based on these experiment objectives and
1.0 INTRODUCTION the inflatable structures concept capability, constrained by
the NASA experiment resources available and the capa-
A relatively new and unique concept for an bility of the experiment carrier, the Spartan. The antenna
inflatable-deployable space antenna structure that has tre- structural configuration is based on the L’Garde, Inc.,
mendous potential for accommodating such stringent user basic inflatable-antenna concept. The 14-meter-diameter
requirements is under development by L’Garde, Inc., Tus- reflector size is based on an extrapolation of the 9-meter
tin, California [ 1,2,3]. The inflatable antenna concept is baseline structures data base and the current size limit for
based on technology developed by L’Garde, Inc., during manufacturing capability at L’Garde, Inc. Moreover, this
the past 25 years, which includes the design, manufac- structure can be accommodated by Spartan, and it is large
ture, and ground and flight testing of inflatable space enough to be used for real applications, such as VLBI
structures [4]. In fact, serious user interest has resulted in commercial mobile communications, and Earth remote
the selection of this concept for a NASA In-Space Tech- sensing applications. The surface-precision goal of 1 mm
nology Experiments Program (IN-STEP) space-based rms on orbit is based on the current analytical perfor-
experiment [.5]. This class of experiments is based on mance projections, manufacturing, assembly, and align-
demonstrating and evaluating the performance of promis- ment capability at L’Garde, Inc. Validation and
ing concepts with low-cost flight hardware. The experi- characterization of the deployment sequence was done on
ment objectives are selected specifically to validate orbit, which provided a realistic operational environment.
antenna-user criteria and to demonstrate the development High mechanical-packaging efficiency was demonstrated
by stowing the inflatable structure in a small canister. The sunlight with a resolution of +/-0.1 mm rms, (b) cover-
inflight single-orbit measurement of surface precision and age of at least 90% of the surface, (c) a measurement
its thermal stability will provide a measurement of the cycle of no more than 40 seconds, and (d) a development
concept value for different potential applications. and flight hardware cost of under $lM. A number of
systems were identified for possible application to the
3.0 SUBSYSTEM FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS experiment, but only one was found to be affordable.
That system is based on a Digital Imaging Radiometer
The experiment-subsystem functional require- developed by McDonnell Douglas for measurment of
ments are driven by the system functional requirements, slope errors on ground-based solar concentrators [3,4].
with design parameters bounded by the L’Garde, Inc.,
flight data base for inflatable structures and the environ- 3.4 Inflation Subsystem
mental-interaction effects on the experiment hardware.
The subsystems needed to accommodate the experiment The key design drivers for the inflation subsystem
include (a) the inflatable structure, (b) the canister or bus included (a) high-pressure nitrogen gas storage for the
structure, (c) the inflation system, (d) the surface-measure- inflatable structure, (b) sensors, valves, and regulators
ment system, and (e) the electronic system. The combina- for implementing the control of inflation, (c) using a
tions of these subsystems represents the simplest approach functional concept based on previous successful
for satisfying the system functional requirements. The L’Garde, Inc., designs, and (d) maximizing the use of
design and performance of the actual flight hardware will Spartan cold-gas attitude control-system components.
be based on how well the subsystem functional require-
ments are satisfied. 3.5 Electronic Subsystem

3.1 Inflatable Structure The design driver for the electronic subsystem is the ini-
tiation, sequencing, and control of all IAE functions that
The antenna inflatable configuration is an off-axis para- include (a) pyrotechnic release devices, (b) pyrotechnic
bolic reflector structure consisting of (a) a 14-meter-diam- valves, (c) synchronization/control of the video cameras,
eter, multiple-gore reflector structure and a transparent VCRs, and light panels, (d) multiplexing of engineering
canopy (which is a mirror shape of the reflector) to main- data, (e) logic and control of the inflatable pressures, and
tain gas pressure on orbit, (b) a torus structure that sup- (f) interface with the Spartan spacecraft.
ports the reflector/canopy circumferentially, and (c) three
28-meter-long struts that interface the torus structure with 4.0 ORBITAL SYSTEM
the canister which is located at the center of curvature of
the reflector to accommodate operation of the surface- 4.1 Orbital Scenario
measurement system.
The orbital functional scenario for the experiment started
3.2 Canister Bus Structure with the Spartan being placed overboard by the STS
Remote Manipulator System (RMS)as shown in Figure
The design drivers for the canister bus structure include (a) 2. Once the orbiter has moved a safe distance away and
providing the load-carrying structure for all elements of the Spartan has been stabilized by its attitude control sys-
the experiment, except the equipment panel that remains tem, a start command from the Spartan to the experiment
with the Spartan, (b) interface structure with the Spartan, controller initiates implementation of the experiment.
(c) deployable panels to accommodate ejection of the Antenna deployment commences withthe opening of the
stowed inflatable antenna structure, (d) smooth surface canister doors; the spring-loaded floor plate then pushes
compartment to house the stowed inflatable structure, (e) the stowed structure away from the canister. The infla-
interface with the struts, and (f) high structural-design tion system then provides nitrogen gas to the stowed
margins to minimize the need for expensive structural- inflatable structure. The entire deployment sequence
qualification verification testing. will take on the order of 5 minutes. Measurements of
surface precision for several sun angles and reflector/
3.3 Surface Accuracy Measurement System canopy inflation pressures will be made during the first
one or two orbits. Since the high drag of the reflector
The design drivers for the surface accuracy measurement structure will cause separation of the Spartan from the
subsystem (SAMS) include (a) remote measurement of the orbiter, and only one orbit is required to implement the
reflector surface on orbit and in the presence of near direct experiment, the antenna will be separated from the Spar-
- .

tan at the completion of the measurements. The Spartan 6.0 INFLATABLE ANTENNA EXPERIMENT
with the experiment data will be recovered by the orbiter RESULTS - PRELIMINARY
at the end of its standard mission.
Freliminary flight data results indicate that (a)
4.2 Orbital Deployment Sequence the Spartan performed flawlessly, (b) the canister doors
articulated nominally, (c) deployment sequence of inflat-
To be meaningful, the validation of deployment needs to able structure was significantly affected by an unex-
address all of the events, which include (a) initial position pected amount of residual air in the stowed structure and
and configuration of the stowed reflector structure after it release of strain energy in the torus structure, (d) inflat-
is released from the canister, (b) the change of structural able support structure achieved its nominal pressure of 3
configuration associated with each of the four deployment psi, (e) complete deployment of the lenticular structure
sequences, and (c) the time required for inflation of each does not appear to have been achieved, (f) the SAMS
of the sequences. Deployment starts when the stowed operated correctly and positioned the rim of the lenticu-
inflatable structure is ejected from the canister by a spring- lar structure but was unable to characterize the reflector
loaded floor plate. Next the deployment of the struts is ini- structure, and (g) outstanding photographic and video
tiated by the strain energy resulting from stowing the coverage from the orbiter.
inflatable members. Deployment is then completed by
inflation of the struts. By this time, deployment of the 7.0 POTENTIAL FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF
torus has been initiated by release of its strain energy and INFLATABLE ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY
completed by inflation. After this support structure has
been completely deployed the reflector and canopy are Current operational technology is unable to
then inflated. fulfill key science needs in Earth remote sensing from
space [7]. For example, microwave measurements of sea
5.0 SURFACE ACCURACY MEASUREMENTS - ice, soil moisture, salinity, and wind speed (over oceans)
GROUND TEST RESULTS are not being obtained at the required spatial resolution.
Recent studies [8] have identified soil moisture measure-
The ground-based test program addressed the ments at 10 to 25 km resolution as the general science
development, evaluation, and verification of mechanisms, driver. Research at Langley Research Center has investi-
inflatable and canister structures, instrumentation systems, gated critical technologies for developing advanced
electronics subsystems, and the inflation system. A major microwave radiometers and the results indicate that
part of the ground-based test program was to determine the novel, inflatable reflector concepts (such as the IAE)
surface accuracy of the 14-meter-diameter inflatable hold much promise for high spatial resolution, small
reflector to the fullest extent possible and to validated the launch vehicle systems. Therefore, an inflatable antenna
operation of the surface measurement system. Due to the system could enable Earth science observations, espe-
size of the 14-meter structure a 0.2 sector of the reflector cially for the 20 to 30 meter category of space systems
was developed for calibration of the surface measurement necessary for soil moisture measurements. For example,
system. The 14-meter reflector surface precision was mea- an inflatable radiometer imaging system is currently
sured photogrametrically to characterize this class of being proposed by JpL for soil moisture and ocean salin-
structure and verify manufacturing capability. The test ity [8].
configuration for the 14-meter-diameter reflector is shown
in Figure 3. The surface accuracy measurement results for 8.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
the 14-meter (IAE) reflector are presented in Figure 4 and
surface distortion contours are presented in 2-mm incre- The overall experiment was a tremendous suc-
ments. Even with l-g effects, the surface accuracy was cess. New, unique and low cost technology was demon-
found to be less than l-mm over a large portion (8-10 strated on orbit. For example, (a) a very large inflatable
meters) over the entire surface. The surface accuracy was antenna structure was built for about $lM, (b) efficient
determined using photogrammetric techniques and the x, packaging was demonstrated by stowing a 50-ft inflat-
y, and I target measurements were used in characterizing able structure in a container the size of an office desk, (c)
the surface for radiation pattern calculations. Radiation a 14-meter diameter reflector structure was manufac-
patterns were calculated for a frequency of 1.4 Ghz since tured having a surface precision on the order of a few
that is the frequency proposed for the Earth remote sensing millimeters, (d) the robustness of a new and unique
application. The results of these radiation pattern calcula- reflector structure was verified by successful orbital
tions are presented in Figure 5. deployment and (e) results of this experiment will focus
 the direction of technology development for a new class of
space deployable structure.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research described in this paper was carried out at the

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technol-
ogy, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration and at Langley Research Center.

REFERENCES

[1] Freeland, R, E., Bilyeu, G. D., and Veal, G. R., “Devel-

opment of Flight Hardware for a Large, Inflatable-Deploy- Figure 1. - Inflatable antenna experiment configuration
able Antenna Experiment”, IAF Paper 95-1.5.01,
presented at the 46th Congress of the International Astro-
nautical Federation, Oslo, Norway, October 2-6, 1995.
[2] Freeland, R. E., Bilyeu, G. D., and Veal, G. R., “Devel-
opment of Flight Hardware for a Large, Inflatable-Deploy-
able Antenna Experiment”, to be published in ACTA
Astronautica, 1996.
[3] Freeland, R. E., and Bilyeu, G. D., “IN-STEP Inflat-
able Antenna Experiment”, IAF Paper 92-0301, presented
at the 43rd Congress of the International Astronautical
Federation, Washington, D. C., August 28Sept. 5, 1992.
[4] Cassapakis, C., and Thomas, M., “Inflatable Structures
Technology Development Overview,” AIAA Paper 95-
3738, presented at the Space Programs and Technical Con-
ference, Huntsville, AL, September 26-28, 1995.
[5] Freeland, R. E., Bilyeu, G. D., and Veal, G. R., “Vali-
Figure 2. - Orbital deployment sequence of the inflatable
dation of a Unique Concept for a Low-Cost, Lightweight,
antenna experiment
Space-Deployable Antenna Structure”, IAF Paper 93-
1.1.204, presented at the 44th Congress of the International
Astronautical Federation, Graz, Austria, October 16, 1993.
[6] Low Earth Orbit Microwave Radiometry Workshop,
sponsored by the Office of Space Science and Applica-
tions, NASA Headquarters, Sept. 22-24, 1992, Hampton,
VA.
[7] Harrington, R. F., Bailey, M. C., Kendall, B. M.,
Schroeder, L. C., Lawrence, R. W., and Campbell, Thomas
G., “Microwave Radiometer Sensor Technology Research
For Earth Science Measurements”, presented at the SPIE
International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Pho-
tonics in Aerospace and Remote Sensing, April 12-16,
1993, Orlando, FL.
[8] Njoku, E., Sercel, J., Wilson, W., and Rahmat-Samii,
Y., “Inflatable Radiometric Imaging System (IRIS) For Figure 3. - Ground Test Configuration of the 14-meter
Spaceborne Measurements of Soil Moisture and Ocean diameter inflated reflector for surface accu-
Salinity”, to be presented at the 5th Specialist Meeting on racy measurement
Microwave Radiometry and Remote Sensing of the Envi-
ronment, November 4-6, 1996, Boston, MA.
” .

14 I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I
13
12
11
IO
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
Figure 5. - Calculated radiation patterns of the 14-meter
2
inflatable reflector during ground testing
1
n
“-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X (meters)
Figure 4. - Measured surface distortions for the 14-meter
inflatable reflector during ground testing

Figure 6. - Photograph of the IAEBpartan being removed from Endeavor by the Remote Manipulator System
Figure 7. - Photograph of the IAE in orbit as seen by Endeavor, positioned toward the sun

Figure 8. - Photograph of the IAE in orbit as seen by Endeavor, side view

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