Contraves Ag

Oerlikon Contraves Ag

Marco C Bernasconi

Karl Kotacka

Inflatable foldable structure and method of manufacturing foldable

A parabolically-shaped reflector antenna particularly intended for space vehicle applications, can be transported into outer space in a folded state. There it is inflated by means of a gaseous agent, such as a gas compound or gaseous medium, which is transported with the space vehicle. The antenna reflector and an antenna radome form an inflatable cavity which is stabilized by a rigidizing torus. The covering material of the antenna reflector, the antenna radome and the rigidizing torus comprise a resin-impregnated layer of fabric. After inflation in outer space, the reflector antenna is aligned such that it will be substantially uniformly heated by the sun for substantially uniform polymerization of the resin impregnant. After polymerization, the reflector antenna requires no gas pressure to keep its shape.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Marco C Bernasconi