CubeSat Deployable Antenna Using Bistable Composite Tape-Springs

Abstract

In this letter, a new conductive composite tape-spring is proposed for CubeSat deployable antennas that is constructed using a glass fiber reinforced epoxy with an embedded copper alloy conductor. The tape-spring is bistable enabling the antenna to be elastically stable in both the deployed and stowed states. A dipole antenna is designed, simulated, and tested to prove the viability of the electrical properties of this material.