Spaceborne antenna with rolling flex hinges and associated methods

A rolling flex hinge for a spaceborne antenna comprising first and second antenna sections, the rolling flex hinge permitting rotation of the first and second antenna sections between a stored position and a deployed position, comprising:

• a first hinge body to be coupled to an end of the first antenna section;
• a second hinge body to be coupled to an end of the second antenna section;
• a flexible strap arrangement coupling the first hinge body and second hinge body together to permit rolling contact therebetween, the flexible strap arrangement comprising at least one flexible strap having opposing ends fixed to respective ones of the first and second hinge bodies, with the first and second antenna sections being stacked in the stored position and extended in end-to-end relation in the deployed position;
• and
• at least one locking linkage coupled between the first and second hinge bodies to lock the first and second hinge bodies when the first and second antenna sections are in the deployed position.

A rolling flex hinge for first and second panel sections, the rolling flex hinge permitting rotation of the first and second elements between a stored position and a deployed position, comprising:

• a first hinge body to be coupled to an end of the first element;
• a second hinge body to be coupled to an end of the second element;
• a flexible strap arrangement coupling the first hinge body and second hinge body together to permit rolling contact therebetween, the flexible strap arrangement comprising at least one flexible strap having opposing ends fixed to respective ones of the first and second hinge bodies, with the first and second elements being stacked in the stored position and extended in end-to-end relation in the deployed position;
• and
• at least one locking linkage coupled between the first and second hinge bodies to lock the first and second hinge bodies when the first and second elements are in the deployed position.