Satellite Solar Panel Deployment

This article presents the modeling simulation and assessment of deployment and locking operations of satellite flexible solar panel using ansys and adams software.

Satellite solar panel deployment.

The solar panel deployment mechanism includes two parts see fig. Materials and methods the satellite is modeled by considering the main body and two yokes which connect the main body and two adjacent panels as rigid bodies and solar panels are modeled as flexible bodies. A test bed for the solar panel deployment testing has been developed supporting the solar array during deployment reproducing the dynamical situation in orbit. 1 an active hinge which provides the kinetic energy of deployment by two redundant torsional springs 2 a passive hinge which controls the rotational speed by means of a brushed dc motor and undergoes locking in the intended position when the solar panel deployment phase finishes.

The array measures 18 8 feet long and 9 2 feet wide and it consists of four solar panels. Paris the intelsat is 19 satellite launched may 31 has failed to deploy one of its two solar arrays intelsat announced late june 1 an anomaly that has affected other space systems loral. Solar array panels of a satellite must be locked at an intended position in order to perform its mission successfully as the electric power source of a satellite. A brushed dc motor has been utilized in the passive spring driven deployment mechanism to reduce the deployment speed.

The results of the deployment system testing are discussed including the design and realization of the test bed the mechanical stress given to the solar cells by the deployment accelerations and the overall system performance. To deploy the solar panels. Deployment test of one of the gpm core satellite s solar wings on thursday june 6 2013. This paper presents an innovative method to control the rotational speed of a satellite solar panel during its deployment phase.