Pumpkin Ka-band Reflectarray Enables JPL Laser Comms NanoSat Mission

JPL has now demonstrated a laser communications pointing experiment between two JPL small satellites: ISARA (the receiver) and OCSD (the transmitter). ISARA is a 3U CubeSat that is powered by a novel, deployable Pumpkin solar array that stows around three sides of the 3U structure. The array's three monolithic panels are hinged together, and deploy to present 24 solar cells on top, and a Ka-band reflectarray (that is essentially an RF Fresnel lens), on the bottom. The flatness of these three panels is critical for the performance ISARA's Ka-band system. 

Solar-cell side of ISARA's Pumpkin-built 24W reflectarray (RA)

ISARA was launched in January 2018. ISARA's solar array and reflectarray have functioned flawlessly on orbit. More information about the recent laser experiment is available here.