AstroMesh Unfurlable Mesh Antenna Reflector
Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Large-aperture deployable mesh reflector antenna, scalable from 3 to 22 meters, with over 150 years of collective on-orbit success across UHF-to-Ka-band missions.
Technical specifications
- Aperture range
- 3 to 22 meters
- Frequency coverage
- UHF through beyond Ka-band (V-Band)
- Am-1 class
- Scalable 6-22 meters, extensive flight heritage
- Am-2 class
- Optimized 18+ meters, 40% reduced stowed height vs AM-1
- Am-lite class
- Optimized 3-8 meters, 50% mass reduction vs AM-1
- Am-lite efficiency
- 55% at 31 GHz / 45% at 50 GHz (5.2 m reflector)
- Flight heritage
- >150 years collective on-orbit success, 11+ successful deployments
About
AstroMesh is Northrop Grumman’s state-of-the-art unfurlable mesh antenna reflector, considered the most advanced and reliable large-aperture deployable reflector available. Apertures range from 3 to 22 meters in diameter, covering radio frequencies from UHF through beyond Ka-band (V-Band). Its perimeter truss structure is inherently stiffer and lighter than competing designs, with best-in-class packing efficiency for challenging launch envelopes.
The product family spans three configurations: AM-1 Class (scalable 6-22 meters, extensive flight heritage), AM-2 Class (optimized for 18+ meters with 40% reduced stowed height versus AM-1), and AM-Lite Class (optimized for 3-8 meters, 50% mass reduction from AM-1, verified 55% efficiency at 31 GHz and 45% at 50 GHz for a 5.2-meter reflector). AstroMesh has flown on NASA’s SMAP and NISAR missions and communications satellites including Inmarsat-4, Alphasat and Thuraya.
Documentation
- Spacecraft-Products-AstroMesh-Unfrulable-Mesh-Antenna-Factsheet.pdf PDF source: cdn.northropgrumman.com ↗
- AstroMesh-DataSheet.pdf PDF source: cdn.northropgrumman.com ↗
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