Design and development of an electro-dynamic tape-tether deployment system
- Paper number
IAC-05-C4.6.02
- Author
Mr. Steven van de Heijning, Technical University of Delft (TUDelft), The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Barry Zandbergen, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Year
2005
- Abstract
At Delft University of Technology (DUT), The Netherlands, an experiment is designed to demonstrate successful deployment and operation of a bare electro-dynamic tape-tether in low Earth orbit without using a cathode. If successful this offers valuable knowledge about the use of tethers for de-orbit and power generation. This paper describes the design and development of a small, light-weight system capable of successfully deploying an electro-dynamic tape-tether.
The deployment system consists of a storage system, a hold-down and release mechanism, an ejection system, a control system and a velocity sensor. The storage system stores a 1 km long, 3 cm wide and 20 micron thick electro-dynamic tether made of aluminium with a reinforcement coating. At the tip of the tether an end-mass is attached, which is connected to the deployment system prior to deployment by the hold down and release mechanism. This mechanism also activates the deployment by releasing the end-mass. The ejection system removes the end-mass away from the spacecraft structure thereby deploying the tether. To prevent the tether from breaking, an open-loop control system assures that the deployment velocity does not become too high. A velocity sensor is used to determine the total amount of tether deployed and the deployment time. The research focuses on the design and integration of these sub-systems into a deployment system of less than 6 kg with de-boost capability. The functions of the deployment system have been identified and allocated to different sub-systems. A set of requirements for the deployment system have been made which to it has to comply. Different concepts for each sub-system have been determined out of which the most suitable with respect to the complete deployment system is selected. These sub-systems are then integrated after which functional tests have to determine the performance and to verify the design of the deployment system.
First, this paper gives a description of the final design of an electro-dynamic tape-tether deployment system. After this, an overview of the functional tests performed to verify the design is given and the results are discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-C4.6.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.