Antennas would be unrolled or unfolded to full size when and where needed.

Inexpensive, lightweight array antennas on flexible substrates are under development to satisfy a need for large-aperture antennas that can be stored compactly during transport and deployed to full size in the field. Conceived for use aboard spacecraft, antennas of this type also have potential terrestrial uses ? most likely, as means to extend the ranges of cellular telephones in rural settings.