DREX main objective is to test a new concept of deployable antennas for space and sub-orbital applications, which was completely developed by a group of students and aims at solving issues connected with volume constraints on launch vehicles. This design combines two important characteristics:
- Reliable deployment, which enables to extend the surface utilized for communication with a very low risk of failure.
- The possibility to transmit data also in the initial configuration at launch, even before the deployment occurs, thanks to a small reflective surface fixed upon the mechanism.
DREX will fly into the stratosphere so as to test the deployment of the dish in its hard operative environment. The distortion of the surface, due to the probe balloon movements and to the stratospheric winds, will be subsequently analyzed. A 3D shape of the surface will be reconstructed thanks to a stereovision optical system.