A terrestrially deployed flexible antenna is disclosed. The antenna
includes a planar, flexible dielectric material having a first side and a
second side. A flexible conductive ground plane is secured to the first
side of the dielectric material. At least one flexible, planar conductive
element is secured to the second side of the flexible dielectric material.
The flexible dielectric material is bonded to form a collapsible enclosed
volume with the ground plane forming an inner surface of the enclosed
volume. A propellant is disposed within tie enclosed volume. The
propellant releases a predetermined volume of gas when ignited. An igniter
ignites the propellant to release the predetermined volume of gas, to
thereby temporarily expand the enclosed volume to a predetermined shape
such that the ground plane, the dielectric material, and the at least one
conductive element cooperate to form a resonant antenna circuit.
