By听Josh Rhoten
Principals
Seniors from the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Funding
Lockheed Martin Space
Collaboration + support
Industry and Foundation Relations; Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering; First RF Corp.
Learn more about this topic:
A group of students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical听Engineering have developed a compactable antenna that could allow for听more powerful radio communications from the small satellites of the future.
Developed as a 2022 senior design project for Lockheed Martin Space, the听team鈥檚 prototype is a deployable helical antenna that starts in a compressed听state, improving upon current satellite antenna hardware that is fully听deployed upon launch. After activation in space, the prototype鈥檚 antenna听component extends to four times its compressed height for full functionality.
The aerospace industry is seeking to shrink the overall size of satellites听while retaining or improving on their capabilities. Doing so would not only听speed production from decades to years, but could also lower the cost听of production.