DelfiC3 Deployment Challenges

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Delfi-C3 Deployment Challenges
A presentation on the challenges of stowing solar
panels and communication antennas within the
limited dynamic envelopes of orbital deployment
canisters and deploying them after separation.
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Introduction

• Delfi-C3
• Requirements and Constraints
• Sources
• Solar Panels
• Deployment
• Concepts
• Communication Antennas
• Deployment
• Concepts
• Melting Wires

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Delfi-C3
3-Unit CubeSat Structure
¼ Wave Antenna
MLI
TFSC
AWSS
Solar Panel

• No Active ACS
• No Batteries

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Requirements and Constraints
Sources

• P-POD (Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer)
• Thin Film Solar Cells (TFSCs)

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P-POD

• Limited dynamic envelope between the P-POD inner
  wall and the satellite structure 325x87.7x8.5 mm
• Limited volume at top and bottom satellite
  100x100x7.5 mm

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Payload TFSC

• Suspended in a frame, not bonded
• Thermal envelope -120C lt T lt 95C
• Above maximum temperature high loss of efficiency

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Solar Panels

• Material GFRP or CFRP
• Dimensions 325x84x1.5 mm
• Simply Supported Calculations 0.4 mm deflection
  due to shock loads
• Deployment Angle 35

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Solar Panel Deployment

• Locked down with polyester or Dynema wire below
  the frame with the TFSC
• Wires cut with melting wire
• Deployment checked with micro switches

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Mechanism Concepts 1

• Piano Hinge with a Torsion Spring

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Mechanism Concepts 2

• Piano Hinge with Tape Spring

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Mechanism Concepts 3

• Tape Spring

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Mechanism Concepts 4

• Piano Hinge with a Conical Compression Spring

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Communication Antennas

• Antennas located at top and bottom surfaces for
  omni-directional pattern
• 2 downlink antennas 50 cm
• 2 uplink antennas 18 cm
• Angle of deployment TBD (awaiting radio testing)

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Antenna Deployment

• The antennas locked down with polyester or Dynema
  wire and supports
• The number of wires depend on antenna system

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Antenna Concept 1

• Brass tube sections connected by springs

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Antenna Concept 2

• Brass tube sections connected by tape spring

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Antenna Concept 3

• Piano Wire

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Melting Wires

• Resistant wire Wolfram
• Power requirement 0.3 Watt
• Bus voltage 5 V (10 V for transceiver)
• Melting time 0.18 sec
• Amount of melting wires 8 (redundancy)

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Where Are We Now

• Solar panels fit in dynamic envelope
• One concept for the panel mechanism yet to be
  made before the trade-off
• Antenna stowing bottleneck for structure design

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Questions?
Website www.delfic3.nl General info
info_at_delfic3.nl Personal contact
address e.n.vanderlinden_at_delfic3.nl