• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1104-1112
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• 2014

We present a design of the deployable lightweight antenna to be used in the satellite satisfying the required performance of the onboard sensor. The analysis is performed on the SAR antenna requirements, deploying techniques including material selection, and the characterization of deployable antenna with central disk. The performance of the solid deployable antennas and the mesh antennas are simulated, and the CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) samples are manufactured and tested. It is confirmed that the deployable antennas with central disk can meet the required performance by using deploying panels or mesh.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.601-609
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• 2014

Large number of SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, one type of earth observation satellite, have been developed as they have the advantage of not being affected by surrounding environment during the earth image acquisition. In order to gain high image quality, SAR antenna should have large diameter. However, internal space of satellite launch vehicle is limited and this leads SAR antenna to be designed deployable so that it can be folded in launch vehicle and unfolded in space. In this research, values of various design factors of deployable satellite antenna were chosen considering satellite's target mission. Configuration of deployable satellite antenna was designed by applying the chosen values of design factors, and variation in deployable satellite antenna during satellite maneuver was observed through simulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.683-691
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• 2014

Significance of SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite regadless of weather have grown for Earth observation. According to the cost-effective trend in satellite development, SAR antenna is actively studied. It's a competitive candidate to use deployable SAR antenna out of CFRP. In this study, variables for an antenna configuration model was researched and evaluated. The design of the antenna was structurally analyzed by FEM(Finite Element Model). Tool-kit was developed for modifying the SAR antenna model easily in accordance with system requirement change. In the tool-kit, antenna configuration design and error analysis of the antenna surface could be achieved. And compatibility of tool-kit results to CST, a RF analysis program, was confirmed.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.123-128
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• 2022

This paper proposes a non-explosive separation device for the deployable SAR antenna. This device utilises a Ni-Cr wire to restrain the antenna's belt mechanism, and joule-heating is used to minimise the impact of deployment. After the Ni-Cr wire has been cut, the device is deployed through the preload of the belt mechanism. Considering the design load(99g) and preload conditions, FEM analysis for AL7050 and Ti was performed. This analysis revealed that the amount of deformation for AL7050 was 0.256 mm with a margin of +0.09. In addition, by performing orbital thermal analysis, the temperature distribution for AL7050 in the worst cold case is confirmed as -50 to +2℃ and -10 to +90℃ in the worst hot case. This analysis confirmed that the separation device would remain stable even in the worst environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2020

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for SAR satellite as it can be operated regardless of the weather condition. In general, main reflector of the SAR is formed of multiple deployable panels to increase performance in the constrained payload envelope. By nature, deployable structure lacks structural stiffness and it is vulnerable to external disturbances and excitation. In particular, SAR satellites may have high levels of vibration occurring at the antenna reflecting surface due to higher angular rate requirements. During image capturing it is important to keep high surface accuracy of the reflector for the quality of images. In this research, a performance degradation of deployable SAR antenna due to structural deformation is analyzed. Panels for main reflectors are assumed to be flexible structures and multi-body simulation environment is established. Then, deflection of the panel is calculated while the satellite performs maneuvers. In addition, antenna gain and beam pointing error are analyzed to determine how these deflections affect antenna performance and mission.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Recently, as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), communication, and signal surveillance missions of spacecraft have become more advanced, research has been actively conducted on the deployable large mesh antenna system with excellent storage efficiency compared to the deployment area, and light weight. Deployable Mesh antennae are characterized by an increase in the number of Openings Per Inch (OPI), which is a measure of mesh weaving density as the mission frequency band increases, and this OPI change directly affects the thermal optical properties of the mesh antenna, so research on this is required. In this paper, to verify the thermal relationship between the optical properties of the mesh and antenna reflector, thermal sensitivity analysis between the mesh and the antenna reflector is performed by in-orbit thermal analysis with various optical characteristics of the mesh based on existing overseas research cases. In addition, the temperature gradient effect of the mesh reflector is analyzed.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.364-374
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• 2021

This research discusses the change in radio frequency (RF) characteristics according to the number of Gores on the deployable mesh antennas for potential micro-satellite applications. The deployable type of lightweight mesh antenna can be used for various space missions such as communication/SAR/ SIGINT. In order to implement an ideal curvature of antenna surface, sufficient number of antenna rib structures are required. However, the increase in antenna ribs affects various design factors of the antenna system, especially total system mass, complexity of deployable mechanism and reliability. In this paper, the proper number of ribs for the mesh antenna were derived by comparison of electro-magnetic (EM) simulation results of example of antenna model in accordance with the various number of ribs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2017

In this paper, we reviewed major design parameters for a solid type of deployable antenna and its structural design. We performed modal analysis for a single reflector panel made of aluminum and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) to confirm the appropriateness of selected materials. We then predicted the elastic modulus of CFRP using the principles of unidirectional composite elasticity stiffness predictions such as the ROM (Rule of Mixture) and HSR (Hart Smith 10% Rule). To optimize the shape of the antenna reflector, a structural stiffness analysis was performed using derived numerical optimization factors. Six structural stiffness analyses were performed using the constructed experimental design method. The resulting optimal shape conditions are proposed to meet the structural stiffness requirements while minimizing weight.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2024

It is essential to develop a light-weight, high-performance structure for the deployable reflector antenna, which is the payload of a reconnaissance satellite, considering launch and orbital operation performance. Among them, the composite main reflector is a key component that constitutes a deployable reflector antenna. In particular, the development of a high-performance main reflector is required to acquire high-quality satellite images after agile attitude control maneuvers during satellite missions. To develop main reflector, the initial design of the main reflector was confirmed considering the structural performance according to the laminate stacking design and material properties of the composite main reflector that constitutes the deployable reflector antenna. Based on the initial design, four types of composite main reflectors were manufactured with the variable for manufacturing process. As variables for manufacturing process, the curing process of the composite structure, the application of adhesive film between the carbon fiber composite sheet and the honeycomb core, and the venting path inside the sandwich composite were selected. After manufacture main reflector, weight measurement, non-destructive testing(NDT), surface error measurement, and modal test were performed on the four types of main reflectors produced. By selecting a manufacturing process that does not apply adhesive film and includes venting path, for a composite main reflector with light weight and structural performance, we developed and verified a main reflector that can be applied to the SAR(Synthetic Aperture Rader) satellite.