GROUND CHARACTERISATION OF TAPE-SPRING DEPLOYMENT MECHANISM

This paper presents a ground investigation into the properties of a tape-spring hinge mechanism, for use in deploying a multi-layer membrane structure for space antenna applications. The repeatability results of deploying those membrane layers using this mechanism are explored, as well as the flatness expected of the surfaces deployed for signal transmission and reception. This membrane is a prototype for the development of an on-orbit flight experiment in thin structure deployment, where such an experiment addresses necessary questions related to the use of this technology for membrane synthetic aperture radar. The prototype includes multiple layers