Development, Design, and Testing of PowerSphere Multifunctional Ultraviolet-Rigidizable Inflatable Structures

The continuing advancement of microsatellites and nanosatellites for space application has identified a need for a simple, low-mass, and low packing volume solar array system for these satellites. The result of decreasing satellite size, thus surface area, and increasing power demand as these satellites become more capable is the inevitable problem of power choke on satellite systems with body-mounted solar cells. The use of traditional, rigid, solar arrays necessitates larger stowage volume and mass, and also requires gimbals for pointing. In previous studies, the PowerSphere solar array system has been identified as one of the solutions to this power choke problem by lowering mass and stowage volume and eliminating pointing mechanisms. Given these requirements, ultraviolet cured composite materials have been identified as the best candidate for this application. The development of PowerSphere multifunctional ultraviolet-rigidizable (UV-rigidizable) inflatable structures is beneficial not only to micro- and nanosatellites it also enables the advancement of gossamer-type structures. In conjunction with UV-rigidizable material, these structures incorporate thin-film flex-circuit to make them multifunctional. Two multifunctional structures in the PowerSphere system use the UV-rigidizable material, namely, the inflatable hinge and the inflatable isogrid center column.