Deployable antenna system

A deployable antenna system for deployment in an extraterrestrial environment, the deployable antenna system comprising:

• a deployment mechanism including one or more extendable support structures comprising at least one axial support structure adapted to increase in length substantially along a z-direction parallel to a z-axis in the deployable antenna system;
• and
• a deployable antenna attached to the one or more extendable support structures and adapted to be stowed in an undeployed state and to be unfurled into a deployed state by the deployment mechanism, the deployable antenna being further adapted to extend and unfurl during deployment from the deployment mechanism in the z-direction responsive to the increase in length substantially along the z-direction of the at least one axial support structure, the deployable antenna including one or more flexible membranes coupled to the at least one axial support structure and extending from the z-axis in the deployed state.