Sounding Rocket Experiment Results of Large Net Extension in Space to be Applied to Future Large Phased Array Antenna

Paper number

IAC-06-C3.3.04

Author

Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Hironori Sahara, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Yuya Nakamura, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Ryu Funase, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Masaki Nagai, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Norihide Miyamura, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Akito Enokuchi, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Yoichi Hatsutori, Keio University, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Tsukasa Funane, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Fumiki Sasaki, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Yuta Nojiri, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Mitsuhito Komatsu, University of Tokyo, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Nobuyuki Kaya, Kobe University, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Yoshiki Sugawara, University of Tokyo, Japan

Year

2006

Abstract

University of Tokyo and Kobe University conducted a sounding rocket experiment of large membrane "Furoshiki Satellite" extension and large phased array RF transmission in January 2005.  The paper will describe the concept of "Furoshiki Satellite," its application to phased array antenna, configuration of the experiment and the experiment results. 
   University of Tokyo has been proposing the idea of "Furoshiki Satellite," a large membrane or a net structure, say, 1km by 1km in size, extended by satellites which hold its corners.  The attitude and the shape of the membrane or net structure is controlled by these or four corner satellites.  As one application of Furoshiki Satellite, a large solar power satellite can be configured by distributing on a large net many panels which each has solar cells on one side and RF transmitters on the other side which behave as a large phased array antenna as a whole.  It is difficult to control the position and attitude of the RF transmitters precisely, but using the "retro-directive" method, the system can transmit power towards the pilot-beam’s direction even under large disturbances.  This is one of promising systems' concept of the future large solar power satellite or large phased array antenna, because in this concept, quite a large area can be obtained without any hard structure, and the weight will not depend very much on the size.
   To demonstrate the feasibility of the extension of large net structure and phased array antenna performance, micro-gravity experiment was conducted on January 22, 2006, using a sounding rocket named “S-310” of JAXA/ISAS, Japan.  In the experiment, one Mother-satellite and three Daughter -satellites as well as a folded net is to be launched altogether to the altitude of 130 km by a sounding rocket S-310, where the Daughters-satellites are released from Mother-satellite towards three different directions with 120 degree separation, while extending the net, and finally a large regular triangle-shaped net with 17m side is configured.  The motion during the extension is measured by the INS implemented on Mother and Daughter-satellites as well as images of video cameras on the Mother-satellite.  The four satellites have transmitters on their bottoms which transmit 2.4GHz microwave towards the ground using retro-directive phased array method. Finally when a net movement is stabilized, small moving robots are released from Mother-satellite, which move on the net for a certain distance.  The experiment was performed very successfully and the obtained data is now under analysis.  At the IAC, the results of the analysis will be presented.

Abstract document

IAC-06-C3.3.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C3.3.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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