A support structure (1) is provided comprising a plurality of curved
surfaces A, B hingedly interconnected along their edges such as to
provide effective deployment in two separate stages. Preferably, the
structure has only two curved surfaces hingedly interconnected at a
single non-planar hinge line. In FIG. 1(a), the two sheets A, B are
coplanar in that they lie in the same horizontal plane, permitting the
structure to be in a flat, first stage deployment position. In Figure
(b), the structure is fully deployed in a second stage deployment
position by bringing sheet A out of plane through some angle in relation
to the position of sheet B, resulting in both sheets becoming curved. The
structure has utility in various space-based as well as terrestrial
reflective and absorbing applications, and bears definite advantage in
terms of weight saving, high stiffness and well-defined surface
precision.