Methods and apparatus for deployable sparse-aperture telescopes

An imaging system comprising:

• a metering structure;
• and
• a plurality of foldable members disposed around a periphery of the metering structure, each foldable member in the plurality of foldable members comprising a respective arm and a respective reflector disposed on the respective arm, wherein the respective arm comprises:
• a first composite tape;
• and
• a second composite tape disposed on the first composite tape so as to define at least partially a cavity between the first composite tape and the second composite tape,
• wherein the first composite tape and the second composite tape comprise a fiberglass or a carbon fiber composite, and
• wherein the arm in a respective foldable member in the plurality of foldable members is configured to hold the respective foldable member toward the metering structure in a first state and to hold the respective foldable member away from the metering structure in a second state such that the reflector of the respective foldable member forms part of a sparse aperture in the second state.