Structural Design of a CubeSat-Based Diffractive Optic Telescope

Footdale, Joseph; Murphey, Thomas W.; Afb, Kirtland

doi:10.2514/6.2011-1729

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…A distinctive characteristic of all shapes is the concentration of the catenary curvatures to the vicinity of the apex; the cables are very nearly straight as they approach the suspension points. This feature has been visible also on the discrete approximation of the radial catenary by Footdale [2], shown in Fig. 2.…”

Section: Radial Catenariesmentioning

confidence: 83%

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Three-Point Suspension for Circular Membrane Apertures

Greschik¹

2012

53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference

2
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2
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Design options are reviewed for the isotropic stretching of circular membrane apertures with three-point tensioning of regular (120 o ) symmetry. Four suspension paradigms are discussed. These are: (a) film triangles with parabolic catenary systems on the sides, (b) circular arc-triangular sheets with edge cables, (c) the latter with circular corner cutouts, and (d) film disks directly tensioned around the circumference with radial catenary systems, so here named. The last two of these are newly proposed to reduce suspension forces for a given support system footprint -equivalently, to reduce the support footprint for given suspension loads. Mechanical and geometric relations are derived, but the radial catenary equation, formally established, is numerically solved. Of the design options, the radial catenary is found with a wide margin to be the most efficient, followed by the arc-circular perimeter with corner cutouts. The parabolic catenary is next; with simple arc-circular perimeter cables being the least efficient. The application of the observations made to more general contexts is touched upon, and additional means to further reduce support loads and -footprint are also highlighted.

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Section: Radial Catenariesmentioning
confidence: 83%

“…Footprints and loads for different geometries of this discrete design and configuration variants with 15 o and 20 o link spacing are also compared in Ref. [2].…”

Section: Symbolsmentioning
confidence: 99%

Three-Point Suspension for Circular Membrane Apertures
Greschik¹
2012
53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
2
0
2
0
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“…One is a trivial "fold and let go" module, with a mechanism even simpler than that proposed in 2011 by Footdale and Murphey [1]. (Footdale employed spools with revolving axles from which members unroll, while the L'Garde design has no revolving or sliding components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 98%

CubeSat-Deployable Photon Sieve Design for Strength and a High Degree of Deployment Control
Greschik¹
2012
53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
3
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1
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Presented is a structural architecture for a CubeSat-deployable photon sieve with d =30 cm diameter circular aperture, with a high degree of deployment control and high deployed strength. The design features a spiral-folded arc-triangular membrane sheet with so-called radial edge catenaries on the sides, stretched by a spreader-reinforced support frame of bistable tapes. The tapes have variable cross sections which streamline their deployment from spools at the frame edge midpoints where the spreader bars join the frame sides. Each frame edge midpoint, in turn, is supported by a leg. During deployment, the three legs first synchronously open up from z-folded stowage, then rotate and move while the frame unrolls from the spools at their ends. This concept, which is unusual in the CubeSat scenario where trivial simplicity is typically preferred over control, has many innovative elements that offer novel solutions to various deployment challenges. Some of these innovations may constitute the most attractive practical solutions for large photon sieves that no longer fit the CubeSat platform and are sensitive due to their size to deployment process imperfections.

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“…In-plane tolerances are not relaxed over traditional optical apertures. The relaxed tolerance requirements has led to significant interest in using diffractive lenses as primary apertures of space-based telescopes in the 10-30m range [1][2][3][4] . The main challenges to using deployable membrane diffractive optics are the thermal dimensional stability requirement for accurate focusing, the high focal length required for the system, focusing errors caused by in-plane distortion from creasing the membrane during stowing, and the method for accurately tensioning the membrane in order to pull out those wrinkles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%

Elastic Spiral Folding for Flat Membrane Apertures
Reynolds
¹
,
Murphey
²
,
Afb³
2014
Spacecraft Structures Conference
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A folding concept has been developed which allows a precision membrane aperture to be elastically stowed with a very high compaction ratio without creasing. The lack of creasing is extremely important when the membrane is used in RF or diffractive optics applications because of its effect on the relative placement of surface features. This concept utilizes the spiral wrapped folding approach with a reduced thickness membrane in the folding hinge lines and through-hole strain relief at the intersecting folds. In application, it is intended that this packaging method will be used in an architecture where it is tensioned discretely from the outer edge. These developments allow for high compaction ratios previously only available through folding methods which caused plastic deformations in the membrane.

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Structural Design of a CubeSat-Based Diffractive Optic Telescope

Cited by 10 publications

References 1 publication

Three-Point Suspension for Circular Membrane Apertures

Three-Point Suspension for Circular Membrane Apertures

CubeSat-Deployable Photon Sieve Design for Strength and a High Degree of Deployment Control

Elastic Spiral Folding for Flat Membrane Apertures

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