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Innovative Services

Advanced deployable reflectors, flexible surfaces, and precision testing for the future of space missions.

Products & Services

Products for your space mission

Explore our competitive and high performance offering across all deployable reflector and deployable reflector systems domains. From antennas to testing services – we are delivering operational excellence and maintaining industry leadership.

Antenna Reflectors

Large deployable reflector systems for high-frequency communication and Earth observation.

Key features:

Flexible Reflecting Surfaces (FlexRS®)

Ultra-compact, foldable reflectors using LSS’s patented FlexRS® and OriFlex® technology

Benefits:

Use Cases: CubeSat payloads, radar, compact RF systems

Test Services

Testing of Materials, Components & Structures

Key features:

Other Products

We design and assemble backing structures and mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) for deployable reflectors.

Benefits:

Use Cases: CubeSat payloads, radar, compact RF systems

Deployable Reflectors

Large Space Structures offers a wide range of high precision reflectors. Varying from Deployable, Shaped Deployable to Reconfigurable Reflectors. Click on the entries below to learn more about our products.

Deployable Reflectors

LSS offers deployable antenna reflectors with aperture diameters ranging from 0.5 m to 35 m and above, using different concepts for the deployable backing structure such as umbrella and peripheral ring architectures. The deployable reflectors can be fitted with a broad range of reflecting surface materials / concepts from the FlexRS® technology and can be used for frequencies up to Ka-band, depending on the category. The following categories are available:

  • Small Deployable Reflectors: 0.5 m – 4.0 m
  • Medium Deployable Reflectors: 4.0 m – 8.0 m
  • Large Deployable Reflectors: 8.0 m – 18.0 m
  • Very Large Deployable Reflectors: 18.0 m – 35.0 m

Shaped deployable reflectors are in active development. They combine the advantages of mesh-based deployable reflectors with the capabilities of radiation pattern contouring.

LSS and Thales Alenia Space are working on in-orbit reconfigurable antenna reflectors. LSS supplies the reconfigurable reflecting surface including the interfaces to the actuators. The reconfigurable surface material (FlexRS® Category III) is suitable for frequencies up to Ka-band and can be tailored to provide the desired mechanical properties according to the requirements of the customer.

FlexRS® Product Range

With the FlexRS® product range, Large Space Structures is offering reflecting surfaces in three categories. From very thin and flexile shell structures to pre-stressed metal meshes and flexible shells with increased stiffness the FlexRS® product range offers highes durability for space exploration.

FlexRS® Category I: Flexible Reflecting Shell Membranes

FlexRS® Category I surfaces are very thin and flexible shell structures, which show aspects of membrane as well as shell behavior. They are therefore called Shell Membranes.

  • Tailorable material properties
  • Used in combination with supporting structures
  • Applicable frequencies: up to Ka-band
  • Functionalization possibility (e.g. RF-active coatings, coloring)

Category II surfaces are based on pre-stressed metal meshes, which are typically supported by a cable network or ribs for providing the reflector’s contour.

  • Applicable frequencies: currently up to Ku-band
  • Grating Lobe Reduction possibility
  • Shaping of category II surfaces in development

Category III surfaces are flexible shells with increased stiffness compared to Category I surfaces, while maintaining high deformability and foldability. These surfaces can fully deploy and maintain their shape under microgravity conditions. This enables the creation of deployable reflectors with greatly reduced need for support structures.

  • Applicable frequencies: up to Ka-band

Test Services

Large Space Structures offers you deep experties in designing, planning and manufacturing high precision space products. We are also offering Testing of Materials, Components and Structures. 

Testing of Materials, Components & Structures
  • Design and planning of the measurement setup
  • Manufacturing of adapters and interfaces
  • Execution of the measurement
  • Post processing and analysis of the measurement data and comparison to FEM data

Manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing of breadboards for

  • Design verification
  • Functionality check
  • Structural behavior characterization
  • Design and planning of the measurement setup
  • Manufacturing and installation of special targeting systems
  • Non-contact shape acquisition for object sizes between 0.025 m³ and 75 m³
  • Thermoelastic deformation measurements from ambient temperature up to 100°C
  • Post-processing of the measurement data and comparison with CAD and FEM data

Other Products

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Deployable Structures & MGSE

We design and assemble backing structures and mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) for deployable reflectors.

This typically comprises:

  • Deployable peripheral rings
  • Umbrella type rib assemblies
  • Gravity compensation systems

Reusable, non-outgassing contrast based targets for Photogrammetry:

  • Fully qualified for TV application in ESA’s Large Space Simulator (outgassing, Tmin/max = ±150°C , Vacuum)
  • Tunable thickness and CTE
  • Coded and non-coded versions according to customer specification

LSS uses an Ultimaker 3 3D printer. The following services are provided to customers:

  • Printing of parts / breadboards according to customer specification
  • Optimization of provided models for printing
  • Cleanup of printed parts
  • Available materials: PLA, ABS, PVA (water soluble)
  • Printing volume: 215 x 215 x 200 mm
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