Development of a Ground-based Test Facility for Studying Reel-in Dynamics of Tethered Satellite Systems.

Abstract

Tethered Satellites offer benefits for the space industry. Several applications are being found which utilize their unique dynamics; from sensing characteristics of the atmosphere to providing a propellantless mode of propulsion. Ground-based experimentation is useful as a cost effective means to develop a thorough understanding of tether dynamics. A number of experiments are required to fully investigate the behavior. After examining a number of experiments previously conducted, a new experiment is devised and tested. The experiment consists of designing a low friction representation of a satellite, the design of a stationary post to be tethered to the satellite representation, choosing an adequate test facility, and developing a means of acquiring data from the experiment. In order to check that the experiment is a useful tool for tether analysis, a mathematical model for the system is developed and then the experimental and mathematical results are compared.