Gossamer Structures for Space Applications (Satellite Appendages)
- Paper number
IAC-07-C2.2.05
- Author
Mr. Thierry Bonnefond, ASTRIUM Space Transportation, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Stéphane Langlois, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Christian Dupuy, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Introduction of new technologies in space is increasingly driven by new requirements as well as cost cutting needs. In the case of highly innovative technologies, such as inflatable structures rigidizable in space, the challenge is even higher because of the lack of confidence in non-rigid technologies due to a limited worldwide experience. The lack of representative models for design and behavior simulation as well as the absence of “best practices” on which confidence could be built is also a significant handicap. This situation hampers the introduction of such technologies despite the fact that they could offer very significant advantages in terms of manufacturing costs, mass and volume savings. Since 2000, Astrium Space Transportation has initiated technological developments of inflatable structures that can be made rigid in space, and has defined a roadmap to bring inflatable technologies in Europe from “lab status” to “space qualified and industrial status” with the aim of enabling its operational use for a range of applications (such as scientific missions, earth observation, space exploration or commercial exploitation). The European Space Agency, national delegations and European space industry acknowledged the need for several technology developments and are looking for potential breakthrough at system level by using inflatable techniques. Therefore inflatable structures have been the subject of a harmonization exercise within Europe since 2003. A technology development roadmap has been defined and agreed, from building blocks to in-orbit experiment. The aim of this paper is to present to current development status for these technologies at Astrium Space Transportation. The paper will present the following topics: -description of the overall validation and qualification approach defined by Astrium Space Transportation for these technologies (approach defined in the frame of an ESA funded study), -current status of technological developments, performed both in the frame of Astrium Space Transportation research program and with a strong support of ESA and CNES. A particular focus will be put on experimental activities in progress concerning the testing of breadboards in relevant environment: tests in vacuum chambers in the frame of the ULS (Ultra-Light Structures) project funded by ESA, zero-G testing during parabolic flights of a CNES and ESA funded flight test campaign, -potential applications for satellite (such as solar panels, deployable masts, antenna reflectors… ), with a specific highlight on the development status of a first operational product: aerobraking sail for de-orbiting the CNES Microscope satellite.
- Abstract document