SURFACE ACCURACY MEASUREMENTS OF A FOLDABLE COMPOSITE REFLECTOR

One of the most important points in design of foldable reflectors is surface accuracytests. Electronic performance depends on surface accuracy of reflective surface. Sufficient surface accuracy can be provided when choose correct material and createconvenient design. This research presents surface accuracy measurements of foldablereflectors which are made of the ultra-thin composite materials for space applications.The reflectors have a flexible shell structure and the reflective surface is supported by askirt to maintain the structural integrity of reflectors which surrounds surface. 1,5 and2 meter prototypes of the full-scale reflector design were manufactured and theaccuracy of surfaces were measured. Photogrammetry technique and PhotoModelersoftware are used for measuring of surface accuracy. Root Mean Square (RMS) error ofreflective surface at different connection types have been investigated to estimate thegravity-induced structural deformation in reflector surface. As a result of studies, theRMS error of 1,5 m diameter reflector surface was found 0,49 mm.