ANTENNA REFLECTOR INTERCHANGE MECHANISM

An interchange mechanism (10) for deploying at least one reflector (12) for reconfiguration of a spacecraft antenna (14). The interchange mechanism (10) includes a rotary actuator (20) having a fixed section (22) mounted on an antenna structure (16) and a mobile section (24) rotating relative to the fixed section (22) about a rotation axis (26). At least one carrier (30) supports a reflector (12) and is freely rotatably mounted on the fixed section (22) for rotation about the rotation axis (26) between first and second angular positions. An arm (32) mounted on the mobile section (26) carries a carrier engaging mechanism (34) that successively and releasably engages the at least one carrier (30) and displaces the at least one carrier (30) from the first to the second angular position when the arm (32) and the mobile section (24) rotate in a first direction.