Spiral Wrapped Antenna Technology

This paper presents prototype and ground test results for an advanced spacecraft deployable parabolic reflector architecture called Spiral Wrap Antenna Technology (SWATH). SWATH is a fully continuous, solid surface deployable parabolic reflector architecture that enables lowcost, high frequency communications and radar missions. Utilizing high strain composites and an origami folding pattern, the antenna stows into a compact form factor for launch while maintaining high precision upon deployment. A streamlined design and manufacturing process is presented along with shape and deployment testing results. Prototyping and testing efforts have proven the architecture to have many desirable features over state of the art mesh antennas including higher frequency operation, lower cost manufacturing, and more compact packaging.