Engineering topics

Stonier, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Stonier, R. A..

3 records

NASA NTRS1977

Development of a low expansion, composite antenna subreflector with a frequency selective surface

A Kevlar-49 epoxy, composite frequency-selective-surface subreflector was developed for the high gain antenna used on the Voyager spacecraft. The Kevlar-49 material was selected for this sandwich structure because a dielectric material was required, and the use of Kevlar-49 resulted in a composite sandwich with a low thermal coefficient of expansion and reduced weight over an equivalent fiberglass construction. A detailed description and the results of the development program are given and include the design requirements for the structure, the development testing of the materials that led to the final design configuration, and the processes used to fabricate this advanced composite spacecraft antenna component.

Stonier, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Developments of a unique graphite/epoxy antenna subreflector

Advanced concepts for large, furlable space antennas have led to an extensive development program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) with configurations utilizing conical main reflectors. The antenna subreflectors for these conical configurations have unusual geometries and new structural requirements. Structural efficiency of the conical antennas is improved through the use of fiber composites. A subreflector was designed and fabricated with graphite/epoxy material. The subreflector is a cylindrical paraboloid with demanding criteria for contour surface precision, high thermal stability, and sufficient structural capacity for inertial launch loads in axial and transverse directions. The paper describes the design, analysis, and fabrication of the subreflector.

Robinson, E. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1974

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

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.

Stonier, R. A.↗