Disturbance impulse effects on large umbrella space reflector dynamics

Abstract

Large umbrella space antennas are essential for communication, monitoring and observation of Earth and space objects. Despite investigations devoted to space antenna dynamics, the disturbance impulse shape effect on the root mean square error of spacecraft antenna reflecting surface has not been studied. This paper overcomes this gap describing disturbance impulse impact on root mean square error of spacecraftantenna reflecting surface relative to paraboloid via nonlinear finite element method. Based on numerical results root mean square dependency on disturbance time for rectangular and sine impulses was calculated. This approach could be applied in studying antenna reflecting surface response on disturbance impulse for different types of perspective large space antennas.