A graphite/epoxy composite high-gain antenna has been developed for the Viking Orbiter 1975 spacecraft. A thin-skin honeycomb sandwich construction was used for the reflector structure. The antenna has been designed, and several have been fabricated and successfully tested and qualified under simulated launch and space environments. The graphite/epoxy material was used primarily because of the weight saving over a more conventional aluminum honeycomb construction and because of its low expansion characteristics. The low coefficient of thermal expansion of the graphite composite results in a dimensionally stable antenna structure under the extreme thermal environment to be encountered in this Mars mission.


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    Title :

    Fabrication of a graphite/epoxy antenna for the Viking Orbiter spacecraft


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    National Symposium and Exhibition ; 1974 ; Buena Park, CA


    Publication date :

    1974-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Fabrication of a graphite/epoxy antenna for the Viking Orbiter spacecraft

    Stonier, R. / Hillesland, H. | Tema Archive | 1974


    Viking '75 Spacecraft Design and Test Summary. Volume 2: Orbiter Design

    N. A. Holmberg / R. P. Faust / H. M. Holt | NTIS | 1980


    Viking orbiter attitude control analysis

    Rodriguez, G. | NTRS | 1977



    Viking '75 spacecraft design and test summary. Volume 2: Orbiter design

    Holmberg, N. A. / Faust, R. P. / Holt, H. M. | NTRS | 1980