Inflatable Antenna Experiment

The deployed Inflatable Antenna Experiment

The Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) was a NASA experiment that began on May 19, 1996, consisting of an inflatable antenna made of mylar which was launched from the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the 1996 STS-77 mission, in cooperation with the satellite Spartan-207.^[1][2]

The antenna correctly inflated, separating from Spartan-207, before re-entering Earth's atmosphere a few days later, on 22 May. IAE was intended to pave the way for the development of lightweight inflatable structures for space applications.^[3] The IAE was constructed by LGarde, Inc., an American aerospace company based in Orange County, CA.^[4][5]

References

1. "IAE". Astronautix.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
2. "Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE)". Daviddarling.info. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
3. Steiner, Mark (NASA); Freeland, Bob (JPL); Veal, Gordon (LGarde). "Preliminary Mission Report: Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment" (PDF). NASA GSFC. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
4. "NASA Chief Technologist to Visit Tustin's L'Garde Inc Thursday". NASA News. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
5. Cohn, Meredith (22 May 1996). "Technology on the Rise: Tustin Firm's Inflatable Antenna Passes a Key Test in Orbit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2013.