Large European Antenna

01 November 2017 Project Sheet

INEGI's Contribution

Mechanical design and manufacture of various equipment and systems that will allow testing an antenna - which includes a reflector and a folding arm - and characterize the operation on ground before launching into space, namely through the development of a:

System for measuring the precision of the reflector surface and Radio Frequency test in zero gravity;
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to deploy the reflector;
Zero-gravity compensation GSE for deployment of the folding arm;
GSE and control system, for the thermoelastic distortion tests of the foldable arm;
System to perform the antenna vibration tests;
System to perform antenna tests in vacuum conditions;

Coordination and implementation of deployment tests of the folding arm;
Definition of the test procedure, coordination and execution of the thermoelastic distortion tests in the foldable arm;

Results/Impact

Development of Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) by a consortium of European partners.
Greater sensitivity and resolution, contributing, for example, to more effective radar missions (earth observation and science).
Implementation of more robust communication links, contributing to, for example, higher data transfer rates (telecommunications).
TRL 8 (technological readiness level) of the 1st PFM - European Proto-Flight Model, which will be ready for integration by the end of 2020 and for flight in 2021.
Reduced European dependence on external countries for key technologies, and increased European participation in the global market.
Promotion of space missions in the context of Earth's environment monitoring, and promotion of sustainability.