The　continuous　model　and　nonlinear　dynamic　responses　of　a　circular　mesh　antenna　subjected　to　the　thermal　excitation　in　the　space　environment　are　investigated　for　the　first　time.　A　continuum　cantilever　circular　cylindrical　short　shell,　which　is　clamped　at　one　side　of　the　shell　along　the　axial　direction,　is　proposed　to　take　place　of　the　circular　mesh　antenna　composed　of　the　repetitive　beamlike　lattice　by　the　principle　of　equivalent　effect.　Based　on　the　first-order　shear　deformation　shell　theory　and　von　Karman　nonlinear　strain-displacement　relationship,　the　nonlinear　governing　equations　of　motion　are　derived　by　using　the　Hamilton＇s　principle.　The　Galerkin　approach　is　used　to　transform　the　governing　nonlinear　partial　differential　equations　into　a　set　of　nonlinear　ordinary　differential　equations.　The　method　of　multiple　scales　is　utilized　to　obtain　the　four-dimensional　averaged　equation　when　the　1:1　internal　resonance　is　taken　into　account.　The　numerical　results,　which　include　the　time　histories,　phase　plots,　and　frequency　spectrum,　are　obtained　for　the　mesh　antenna.　The　influences　of　the　thermal　excitation　and　the　damping　coefficient　on　the　nonlinear　dynamics　are　analyzed　for　the　mesh　antenna.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.