Development of transformable reflectors of mirror space antennas

Sergey Reznik,Oleg Denisov,Konstantin Mikhailovsky,Pavel Prosuntsov,Liliana Denisova,Vladimir Zavaryev,P Yermolov

doi:10.1051/itmconf/20193005026

Sergey Reznik, Oleg Denisov + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/itmconf/20193005026

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Abstract

Currently, the task of designing large structures of space antennas is becoming increasingly important due to active research and development in the area of creating remote sensing and communication satellites. Designing such structures is a complicated task due to geometric features, a large number of joints, compactness requirements, as well as operating conditions of the outer space. These factors require special methods for assessing the workability of these structures. This paper presents the results of simulation and experimental studies aimed at creating transformable antenna reflectors. The results of choosing general structural layouts are considered. It is noted that the main reason for the reflector shape distortion is non-uniform heating by the solar radiation and radiation fluxes coming from the Earth. The paper presents the results of numerical modeling of temperature and stress-strain state of transformable antenna reflectors from metallic mesh sheet meeting the requirements for operating on the geostationary orbit.

Highlights

Promising avenues for the development of communication systems and systems for remote sensing of the Earth include the creation of spacecrafts with transformable antenna reflectors. [1,2,3,4]
JSC «NPO Lavochckin» and the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences developed a unique project of space radio telescope «Radioastron» with a petal-type load-bearing structure
JSC «ISS – Reschetnev Company» is working in cooperation with several companies and the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences on creating a radio telescope «Millimetron» with a unique temperature control system of the composite load-bearing structure

Summary

Introduction

Promising avenues for the development of communication systems and systems for remote sensing of the Earth include the creation of spacecrafts with transformable antenna reflectors. [1,2,3,4]. JSC «ISS – Reschetnev Company» is working in cooperation with several companies and the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences on creating a radio telescope «Millimetron» with a unique temperature control system of the composite load-bearing structure. This was made possible through the advent of polymer composite materials (PCM) with high specific strength and stiffness, polymer fiber webs, metallic woven mesh sheets from small diameter (15-50 μm) gold-plated tungsten or molybdenum fibers. The main factors are ultra-high vacuum, solar and ionizing radiation, bombardment by atomic and molecular particles, micrometeoroids and small space debris particles, thermal cycling (up to several thousand cycles per year in a wide temperature range, for example, from 80 to 450 K)

Approbation of method and modeling results

Findings

Conclusions