PurposeThe　time-varying　lateral　vibration　of　the　radial　ribs　induced　by　the　deployment　movement　of　the　satellite　antenna　has　adverse　effects　on　its　surface　accuracy　and　fatigue　life.　This　paper　utilizes　the　method　of　a　hollow　component　of　the　radial　ribs　containing　multi-petal　friction　dampers　(MPFD)　with　high　energy　dissipation　and　a　wide　frequency　band　to　achieve　lateral　time-varying　vibration　control　of　the　satellite　antenna.MethodsFirstly,　the　dynamic　model　of　the　loss　factor　of　the　oscillation　system　is　developed,　which　takes　advantage　of　friction　loss　energy　of　nonlinear　structure　damping.　After　establishment　of　the　lateral　dynamic　model　of　the　component　installed　with　the　MPFD,　the　effects　of　the　thickness　and　the　number　of　petals　on　the　optimal　design　parameters　of　the　MPFD　are　analyzed　based　on　the　optimization　algorithm.　Subsequently,　the　transfer　matrix　method　is　used　to　establish　a　dynamic　sub-scale　model　of　the　component　of　the　radial　ribs.　The　comparative　damping　validation　experiments　are　performed　to　measure　the　loss　factor　of　the　lateral　oscillation　system　subjected　to　dynamic　excitation.　Finally,　the　simulations　investigate　the　multiple　resonance　response　of　the　radial　ribs　installed　with　optimally　designed　MPFDs　to　demonstrate　the　effectiveness　of　suppressing　the　time-varying　lateral　vibration　after　and　during　the　antenna　deployment.ConclusionTheoretical　studies　and　experimental　results　show　that　the　proposed　design　method　of　the　MPFD　has　a　significant　effect　on　suppressing　the　lateral　time-varying　and　multi-mode　lateral　vibration　of　the　satellite　antenna.