"Revolutionary Antenna Design Powered by NASA Technology"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org
NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has supported the development of a potentially game-changing antenna design called the Large Balloon Reflector (LBR). The LBR is an inflatable device that creates wide collection apertures for space-based sensing and communications. It uses a section of the inside surface of an inflated sphere as a parabolic antenna, providing a lightweight and compact alternative to traditional reflector antennas. The technology has been successfully demonstrated on a stratospheric balloon and will soon be tested in low Earth orbit. The LBR opens up possibilities for future lunar, planetary, and deep-space missions using CubeSats.
