Satellite antenna having fiducial devices for compensating physical distortion and associated methods

An antenna for a satellite comprising:

• first and second extensible booms, each configured to extend outwardly from the satellite in opposite directions from a stored position to a deployed position;
• a first set of ribs carried by the first extensible boom and a second set of ribs carried by the second extensible boom, the first and second sets of ribs configured to be in spaced apart relation when the first and second extensible booms are in the deployed position;
• a cord network coupled to the first and second sets of ribs;
• a Radio Frequency (RF) reflective film carried by the first and second sets of ribs to define a curved RF reflector surface;
• a first set of phased array antenna feeds carried by the first extensible boom and a second set of phased array antenna feeds carried by the second extensible boom, the first and second sets of phased array antenna feeds directed toward the RF reflective film;
• a first set of fiducial devices carried by the first set of ribs and a second set of fiducial devices carried by the second set of ribs;
• a first camera directed toward the first set of fiducial devices, and a second camera directed toward the second set of fiducial devices, the first and second cameras configured to sense a physical distortion of the RF reflective film;
• and
• a controller cooperating with the first and second cameras to operate the first and second sets of phased array antenna feeds to account for sensed physical distortion of the RF reflective film.

A method for deploying and using an antenna for a satellite comprising:

• extending first and second extensible booms of the antenna outwardly from the satellite in opposite directions from a stored position to a deployed position;
• the antenna comprising
• a first set of ribs carried by the first extensible boom and a second set of ribs carried by the second extensible boom, the first and second sets of ribs moved into spaced apart relation when the first and second extensible booms are moved into the deployed position,
• a Radio Frequency (RF) reflective film carried by the first and second sets of ribs to define a curved RF reflector surface,
• a first set of phased array antenna feeds carried by the first extensible boom and a second set of phased array antenna feeds carried by the second extensible boom, the first and second sets of phased array antenna feeds directed toward the RF reflective film,
• a first set of fiducial devices carried by the first set of ribs and a second set of fiducial devices carried by the second set of ribs, and
• at least one camera directed toward the first and second sets of fiducial devices to sense a physical distortion of the RF reflective film;
• and
• operating a controller to cooperate with the at least one camera to operate the first and second sets of phased array antenna feeds to account for sensed physical distortion of the RF reflective film.