The developer of communication, navigation, and geodesy satellites - "RESHEТNEV" (part of Roscosmos) is creating a technology for manufacturing onboard antenna reflectors with a membrane reflecting surface. The company's press service emphasized that this is an innovative product for the domestic rocket and space industry.
It is specified that a membrane is a composite material that has elasticity under deformation. It provides tension to the reflecting surface of the reflector. This improves the quality of satellite communications.
Reshetnev's team plans to develop and manufacture onboard transformable reflectors with a diameter of up to 1.5 m and a reflector segment of up to 12 m. The assembly of experimental samples of membrane reflectors is almost complete. Then it is planned to check their thermal vacuum and mechanical characteristics.
Membrane reflectors are used in space. They are located outside the spacecraft, so they are affected by the external environment. The use of polymers for reflectors helps to solve the problem with their possible damage.
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