Surface Accuracy of Precision Membrane Reflectors

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Abstract
The desire to reduce launch cost and stowed volume has resulted in a renewed interest in membrane and inflatable structures in space. However, resolution depends on aperture size, and there is a practical limit to the dimensions of rigid structures deployed in space. Thus membrane reflectors promise a wide variety of applications across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio and radar waves, to optical frequencies. Adequate on-orbit performance of these reflectors remains a technical challenge, however. In this paper, we focus on the surface accuracy of membrane reflectors, that is, their deviation from a reference profile, appropriate metrics, and corrective actions that may be employed.

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