Patent ID: 6219010
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
An antenna reflector for a spacecraft having to be stored in an elongate casing along an axis (X--X) such that said reflector is arranged laterally with respect to the body of said spacecraft, in the peripheral space bounded between said body and said casing, said reflector being elastically deformable such that:outside said casing said reflector takes up a stable, deployed state without elastic stress, corresponding to its functional shape;within said casing, said reflector, by elastic folding around said axis of the casing, is arranged in a folded state allowing said reflector to envelop said body laterally, said reflector being held in said folded state by a controllable retaining means; andsaid reflector changing from said folded state to a deployed state at least in part from the release of the energy stored in said reflector when it is elastically folded in order to change said reflector from said deployed state to said folded state,wherein said reflector includes at least one marked fold line having a general direction which is at least approximately parallel to said axis of the casing and about which said reflector is folded into said folded state in order to obtain sharp angles of fold for allowing said reflector to match as well as possible the lateral contour of said body.