June 27, 2007

Ultralight structures set to sail away in 2010 - Sailing back to Earth

In 2011, after it has completed its mission to investigate the equivalence principle, the Microscope satellite will become another spent piece of space debris in an already cluttered low-Earth orbit.
Artist’s view of the Microscope satellite. Credits : CNES/Ill. D. Ducors
Artist’s view of the Microscope satellite. Credits : CNES/Ill. D. Ducors

CNES, as a signatory to international treaties committed to reducing space debris, has come up with an original method for deorbiting Microscope: IDEAS, an ultralight structure that will slow the satellite in much the same way as braking parachutes are used on certain fighter aircraft; only IDEAS will be deployed for much longer.

Loïc Boloh, Deputy Director of Spacecraft Engineering at CNES, explains: « “At an altitude of 730 km, if Microscope was left to its own devices at the end of its mission, it would take more than 60 years to re-enter the atmosphere. By deploying an ultralight sail spanning just 5 sq.m., we can get that down to 25 years.”
The IDEAS system lowers the satellite’s orbit.
The IDEAS system lowers the satellite’s orbit.
By increasing the drag on the satellite exerted by the rare atmospheric particles still present at this altitude, this sail will speed up the natural decay of its orbit.
Microscope satellite with its two 4.60-m deorbiting sails unfurled. Credits : CNES
Microscope satellite with its two 4.60-m deorbiting sails unfurled. Credits : CNES
The trickiest phase of the mission for an ultralight structure will undoubtedly be the moment it is deployed in the weightlessness of space. For this reason, a series of microgravity tests were recently conducted on the Airbus Zero-G aircraft operated by Novespace.

IDEAS spreads its wings

During the microgravity phases of the recent parabolic flights, a model boom 1 metre long was inflated with an inert gas (nitrogen).
Testbed on board the Airbus Zero-G. Credits : CNES
Testbed on board the Airbus Zero-G. Credits : CNES

“The idea here was to validate initial unfolding of the tube,” says Loïc Boloh. “We used another model to test deployment of 2 related thin-film membranes that will be used as a sail. We learned a lot from this experiment.” In particular, the tests allowed CNES, which has drafted the specifications for EADS ST to assure the system’s compatibility with the Microscope satellite bus, to fine-tune sail deployment control parameters.

The operational impact of the folding method was also tested. To fit under the launcher fairing with Microscope, the boom and sails must take up a volume of no more than 60 cm x 60 cm x 10 cm, and weigh no more than 12 kg.



Presentation of the Gossamer experiment on the Airbus Zero-G at the 2007 Paris Air Show. Microgravity deployment tests during a previous parabolic flight test campaign. Crédits : CNES

To meet these tight specifications, engineers had to use exceptional materials like Kapton, a very-thin-film polymer with low temperature sensitivity that makes up most of the sail. The Kapton is laid on a grid of Nomex, another highly heat-resistant fibre. And to prevent the sail from tearing during its 25-year odyssey in space, aluminium to protect against solar ultraviolet radiation and silicon oxide to counter atomic oxygen corrosion were also used.

These ultralight structure deployment tests, the first to be performed on parabolic flights in Europe, were a great success. On the strength of these very promising results, CNES will be pursuing the fruitful engineering collaboration with EADS ST thanks to which Microscope will one day set sail and head back to Earth.

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