A Foldable and Reconfigurable Monolithic Reflectarray for Space Applications

Abstract

An origami-based foldable and reconfigurable Reflectarray Antenna (RA) with multiple apertures is proposed for CubeSat applications. The proposed configuration consists of a central RA embedded in folding panels using Lamina Emergent Torsional (LET) joints based on compliant mechanisms. Depending on the folding direction of these panels (forward or backward), a new RA aperture is formed. The proposed RA along with its folding panels and hinges is fabricated using only a single PCB. A prototype of such an RA with two foldable panels is fabricated and measured. This RA operates in the Ku-band at 16 GHz and provides two pencil beams pointing at (8 = 30°, φ = 0°) and (8 = -30°, φ = 0°), and a dual-beam pointing at (8 = +27°, φ = 0°) and (8 = -29°, φ = 0°). The proposed RA provides a gain of 25 dB and 19 dB in its singleand dual-beam operations, respectively. For CubeSat applications, the key advantages of this RA are its small stowed volume, reconfigurable EM performance, beamsteering capabilities, monolithic construction, low fabrication cost, and reduced complexity.

Keywords

• CubeSat
• reflectarray
• surrogate fold
• pattern reconfiguration
• LET joint
• compliant mechanisms