The Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) project is a technology demonstration mission of a 3-U CubeSat with an advanced, digitally controlled electrical power system capability and the novel use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) technology for reliable solar array deployable mechanisms. The ALBus cubesat has a need to deploy four solar arrays in addition to the body-mounted arrays on each side of the cubesat. A goal of the mission is to utilize the SMAs being developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center to deploy these solar arrays. The use of SMAs allows for the ability to test and reset the flight deployment mechanism prior to flight which reduces the risk of on orbit deployment failures common on cubesats. As a result, an SMA driven Retention and Release mechanism and an SMA driven hinge was designed, developed, and being prepared for flight. This paper summarized the development of these mechanisms, types and functionalities of SMAs used, and lessons learned throughout the process.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Design and Development of CubeSat Solar Array Deployment Mechanisms Using Shape Memory Alloys


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium


    Publication date :

    2018-06-01


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English








    Cubesat on-orbit deployment device

    ZANG HONGDA / ZHANG DAOWEI / NI ZHIXUE et al. | European Patent Office | 2024

    Free access