Ground and geostationary orbital qualification of a sunlight-stimulated substrate based on shape memory polymer composite

Abstract

A sunlight-stimulated substrate, named Mission SMS-I, carried out the orbital deployment experiment and anti-irradiation verification on an experimental geostationary satellite. It is the prototype of a solar array substrate which integrates the conventional substrate, support structure, and deployment function by using the carbon fabric reinforced shape memory polymer composite (SMPC). The substrate could deploy from the 'Ω' packaged configuration to the '-' deployed configuration once its temperature is at or above the glass transition temperature. This paper presents details of the Mission SMS-I in a sequence of material preparation, structure design, manufacture, ground experiments, and orbital experiment. Results show that the Mission SMS-I can withstand the required mechanical and thermal conditions, successfully deploy in orbit and have a good long-term anti-irradiation capability. SMPC is a suitable choice for the substrate of solar arrays or any other deployable structures which need the actuation in materiallevel or directly exposed to the space environment.

A Review of Shape Memory Polymers and Composites: Mechanisms, Materials, and Applications

“…In 2016, sunlight‐stimulated shape memory substrate, known as Mission SMS‐I, was launched to the geostationary orbit with an experimental satellite for deployable and long‐term anti‐cosmos irradiation experiments. [ 153 ] The Mission SMS‐I is one of the Chinese pioneering orbital experiments on SMPCs and the world's first SMPCs space flight experiment in a geostationary orbit. The substrate was able to revert from a bent shape to a flat shape under sunlight and it recorded a recovery ratio of almost 100% after 13 days of its launch.…”

Development and Prospect of Smart Materials and Structures for Aerospace Sensing Systems and Applications

“…Shape memory polymers (SMPs) also offer unique advantages in low-shock release applications, where SMP-based integrated components are lightweight, reliable, and economical. Li et al [ 93 ] realized the geostationary orbit in-orbit space test of SMP and obtained many useful test data. On this basis, in order to meet the low-shock release requirements of the release device by the deployment of solar sails of satellites in orbit, Xin et al [ 94 , 95 ] designed a smart solar array based on shape memory materials, which is locked by one SMA and two SMP release mechanisms, with a maximum preload of 2000 N, so it is suitable for the limit and release of separable structures with small mass.…”

Evolution and emerging trends of 4D printing: a bibliometric analysis

“…The research mainly focuses on direct ink writing based 4D printing [37], shape memory polymers based 4D Printing. The team uses 4D printing technology in a wide range of aerospace, aviation, and biomedical applications with excellent research results [21,[38][39][40]. At the same time, the above two teams cooperated in the development and application of metamaterials and photopolymerization technology in the field of 4D printing.…”

“…The scale and distribution of the concentration In comparison with the second phase, the research perspectives of scholars experienced evident changes. Application topics, such as bioprinting [61], soft robotics [62], medical device [63], flexible electronics [64], and aerospace [40], attracted extensive attention. Such topics reflect the continuous development of technology, support the application of technology, and refine research branches.…”