Northrop Grumman Corporation's second, 12-meter AstroMesh reflector was successfully deployed aboard the Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company's second spacecraft last month.

An artist's concept of Thuraya-2. Credit: Boeing

The reflector was deployed after the Boeing-built Thuraya-2 reached its geosynchronous orbit. Thuraya-2 will add capacity to the company's network, which provides mobile voice and data communication services to Europe, the Middle East and portions of Africa and Asia.

"This successful deployment underscores the reliability of Astro Aerospace's reflectors and deployable space products," said Chris Yamada, president, Astro Aerospace. The first Thuraya spacecraft deployed an identical AstroMesh reflector in late 2000. The Thuraya network, including both spacecraft, was designed and built by Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, Calif.

AstroMesh lightweight, high-precision reflectors provide advanced capability for very large antennas. The reflector is 12.25 meters (40 feet) in diameter when deployed on orbit, 1.1 meters (44-inches) in diameter when stowed for launch, and works in transmit and receive modes.

Astro Aerospace has also designed and manufactured AstroMesh reflectors for Astrium on the Inmarsat 4 program and for Space Systems/Loral on Japan's Mobile Broadcasting satellite program. Both reflectors are scheduled to be launched early next year.

Astro Aerospace, based in Carpinteria, is a business unit of Northrop Grumman Space Technology, a leader in the development of space, defense and electronics systems. For more than 40 years, Astro Aerospace has pioneered the technology of space deployable structures. It has a 100 percent success rate on hundreds of flight-specific deployable units.