A Deployable Volume-Efficient Miura-Ori Reflectarray Antenna for Small Satellite Applications

Abstract

Traditional high-gain antennas, like parabolic reflectors and phased arrays, are challenging to implement on small satellites (SmallSats) due to their reduced volume when stowed for launch. Therefore, a deployable volume-efficient Miura-ori (VEMO) reflectarray aperture is presented that achieves high gain (35.3-dBi) and high volume efficiency (96%). The design is based on a modified Miura-Ori origami folding pattern that allows for ultra-high volume efficiency and simple deployment. In its stowed state, the aperture fits in a cuboid volume (8.0-cm $\times8.0$ -cm $\times2.5$ -cm) that occupies just 16% of the volume of a 1U CubeSat. The aperture is deployed by releasing stored energy from strategically placed neodymium magnets in the magnetic longitudinal offset (MaLO) hinge system. The aperture has a large reflecting surface area (24.8-cm $\times24.8$ -cm) that is stabilized by the MaLO hinges. The antenna operates in the Ka-band (38-GHz), and provides low side lobe level (−17.5-dB), high cross-polarization discrimination (37.1-dB), and acceptable efficiency (27.4%). The main advantage of the proposed VEMO RA antenna is that it achieves high gain with a design that is straightforward, low-cost, and easily deployable while occupying only a small portion of the payload volume. These characteristics are ideal for many SmallSat applications, such as satellite communications, remote sensing, and deep space research.

Keywords

• Reflectarray antennas
• directive antennas
• microstrip arrays
• deployable antennas
• origami
• small satellites