Cubesat Solar Panel Deployment Mechanism

Cubesats have a mass of no more than 1 33 kilograms 2 9 lb per unit and often use commercial off the shelf cots components for their electronics and structure.

Cubesat solar panel deployment mechanism.

A unique solar panel deployment mechanism using shape memory alloy sma for cubesats was developed by perez. Cubesats are commonly put in orbit by deployers on the international space station or launched as secondary payloads on a launch vehicle. In 2021 the dart spacecraft will be launched by nasa to intercept the binary system didymos and impact the moonlet dimorphos to test the effective. Thanks to its very thin and customisable design it fits on all cubesat structures and subsystems such as isis antenna system.

Other types of deployables flown on cubesats include deployable solar panels that fold up along the sides of the cubesat as well as deployable antennas. Its space qualified cells are provided with extensive characterization and test reports. The deployment system relies on a thermal knife composed of one wire and two redundant heating elements per tape. G sab deployment tumbles the cubesat requiring long stabilization whereas xsas can deploy without inducing additional rotations upon the satellite.

A prototype of the system has been realized for a 3u cubesat consisting of two deployable solar panel systems made of three solar panels each for a total of six deployed solar panels. Depending on the configuration one or two radios in the cubesat can connect to the antenna system by means of miniature rf connectors. Rf phasing balun circuitry ties the antennas together in a turnstile configuration. That work introduced the use of a niti based sma in conjunction with an al bushing to create a holding and release function on the mechanism which secures mechanical releases in a nonexplosive manner increasing the probability of success while eliminating.

The exa dsa 1a titanium deployable solar array for 1u is the entry level product of a family of deployable solar arrays based on artificial muscles for cubesats in the range of 1u to 6u. The deployment mechanism of the solar panel is one of the main considerations for the shape of the entire cubesat. The panels come in 1 6u size with sun and temperature sensors and other custom options available on request. The deployment system is based on a plastic fiber wire and thermal cutters guaranteeing a suitable level of reliability.

The arrays are composed by 5 panels 3 on top 2 on bottom that attached to the cubesat structure just as another solar panel and once in orbit deploys to full extension includes deploy and release contact sensors and custom options are available on requests like sun and temperature sensors 7 panel. This deployment mechanism is a part that must be defined by the user because it will be used for mission dependent tasks or other purposes. The feasibility of using pogo pins as a solar panel s release mechanism was successfully verified through validation tests.