PAROI AUTOPORTANTE POUR USAGE SPATIAL ET SON PROCEDE DE CONDITIONNEMENT

A foldable self-supporting vaulted shell for use in space, the shell comprising a thin flexible membrane and a plurality of thin battens forming ribs for tensioning said membrane. Each of the battens has a first main face and a second main face, one of the main faces facing the membrane. The membrane includes guide pocket for said battens. The guide pocket terminating at at least one end by abutment-forming end-reception means for receiving corresponding ends of the battens, and forming abutments such that in a deployed condition, the ends of the battens transmit axial force to the membrane. As a result tensioning of the membrane occurs. The shell occupies a small volume in its folded condition for storage in a launcher for the purpose of being placed into orbit. Such a shell is suitable for making microwave antennas. The invention also relates to a method of packaging such a shell.