Abstract: An antenna includes a body support structure, an extruding mechanism to exert an extrusion force, an extrusion plate to inhibit motion of an extension plate, an extrusion support structure, a nadir panel including one or more communication patches; one or more petals including one or more additional communication patches, one or more extension arms, and an extension mechanism exert an extension force upon the extension plate. The relative position and orientation of the components are altered by the operation of the extension mechanism and the extension mechanism from a stowed state to an extruded state to an extended state. A control system may be included to initiate and control the state of the antenna as well as operate the communications of the antenna once deployed.

Abstract: An antenna includes a body support structure, an extruding mechanism to exert an extrusion force, an extrusion plate to inhibit motion of an extension plate, an extrusion support structure, a nadir panel including one or more communication patches; one or more petals including one or more additional communication patches, one or more extension arms, and an extension mechanism exert an extension force upon the extension plate. The relative position and orientation of the components are altered by the operation of the extension mechanism and the extension mechanism from a stowed state to an extruded state to an extended state. A control system may be included to initiate and control the state of the antenna as well as operate the communications of the antenna once deployed.

Abstract: The effect of orbit plane precession is used to place a plurality of satellites into one or more desired orbit planes. The satellites are distributed within each desired orbit plane in a selected configuration. The satellites are transported into orbit on one or more frame structures referred to as "pallets". When more than one pallet is used, they are placed on top of each other in a "stack". After the stack of the pallets has been launched into an initial, elliptical orbit, the pallets are separated sequentially from the stack at selected time intervals. Thrust is applied to transfer a first pallet from the initial orbit to a first, circular orbit, wherein the initial and first orbits are in planes that process at different predetermined initial and first rates, respectively.