The purpose of the Solar Array Flight Dynamic Experiment (SAFDE) is to demonstrate the feasibility of on-orbit measurement and ground processing of large space structures' dynamic characteristics. Test definition or verification provides the dynamic characteristic accuracy required for control systems use. An illumination/measurement system was developed to fly on space shuttle flight STS-41D. The system was designed to dynamically evaluate a large solar array called the Solar Array Flight Experiment (SAFE) that had been scheduled for this flight. The SAFDE system consisted of a set of laser diode illuminators, retroreflective targets, an intelligent star tracker receiver and the associated equipment to power, condition, and record the results. In six tests on STS-41D, data was successfully acquired from 18 retroreflector targets and ground processed, post flight, to define the solar array's dynamic characteristic. The flight experiment proved the viability of on-orbit test definition of large space structures dynamic characteristics. Future large space structures controllability should be greatly enhanced by this capability.


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    Title :

    Solar array flight dynamic experiment


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1987-04-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Solar Array Flight Dynamic Experiment

    R. W. Schock | NTIS | 1986


    Solar Array Flight Dynamic Experiment

    R. W. Schock | NTIS | 1987


    Solar array flight dynamic experiment

    Schock, Richard W. | NTRS | 1986


    Solar array flight dynamic experiment

    Schock, R. W. | NTRS | 1986