The gossamer space structures are very large and ultra-lightweight structures. A large aperture-based space structure is highly efficient in capturing signals from a wide coverage area. However, their deployment in space has been a critical challenge to date. Extensive research has been carried out on various types of gossamer structures used for earth exploration and deep space applications. Space antenna, in general, should have a large electrical aperture, be light in weight with small stowage volume, be easily deployable in space, and thermally stable. The antenna consists mainly of a reflector as a major part and a torus for supporting the reflector, electronic control unit, and struts. This paper covers an extensive review of gossamer space structure considering different categories of large deployable antennas. More attention has been given to a large membrane-based antenna having a parabolic reflector. This work includes the study of designs, analyses, and development of prototypes and successful deployment of space structures in orbit. We emphasize understanding the behaviour of thin membrane, their static and dynamic characteristics, wrinkling control, shape control of thin membrane reflector, and recent advances in deployment techniques of large deployable antenna structures.

游丝空间结构是非常大且超轻的结构。基于大孔径的空间结构在捕获来自广泛覆盖区域的信号方面非常有效。然而，迄今为止，它们在太空中的部署一直是一项严峻的挑战。已对用于地球探测和深空应用的各种类型的游丝结构进行了广泛的研究。空间天线一般应具有较大的电孔径、重量轻、装载体积小、易于在空间中部署和热稳定性。天线主要由作为主要部件的反射器和支撑反射器的环面、电子控制单元和支柱组成。本文涵盖了考虑不同类别的大型可部署天线的游丝空间结构的广泛审查。具有抛物面反射器的大型薄膜天线受到了更多关注。这项工作包括研究原型的设计、分析和开发以及空间结构在轨道上的成功部署。我们强调了解薄膜的行为、它们的静态和动态特性、起皱控制、薄膜反射器的形状控制以及大型可部署天线结构部署技术的最新进展。