Lasting Inflafeable Structures for Small Satellites

[Jonfliesgoats]

I was thinking about using inflateable components to position antennae and reflectors appropriately.  Over time, any inflateable will lose its gasses and eventually deform.  Small craft can't carry enough material to replenish a fraction of a psi in the inflateable over a course of years.

So how do you make a rubber bubble last?

Perhaps inflate it with some sort of stiffening agent, like inflating a balloon with spray paint?  It would have ot deal with cyclic thermal stresses well.

[Jonfliesgoats]

Is there anything that would stop us from inflating a bubble with spray paint?

[kerbiloid]

41 minutes ago, Jonfliesgoats said:

Is there anything that would stop us from inflating a bubble with spray paint?

Even better

Spoiler

Also, we shouldn't forget classics.

Spoiler

 

[Jonfliesgoats]

Space-Mentos!  We have a sponsorship idea, guys!