Structural Dynamics Test of Spiral Tube Actuator for Controlled Extension / Retraction (STACER) Antenna Deployment in Microgravity

The Trapped Energetic Radiation Satellite (TERSat) is an MIT satellite program sponsored by the AFRL University Nanosatellite program. The goal of TERSat is to understand how Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves interact with radiation particles and how VLF waves propagate in the plasma environment of the Van Allen Radiation Belts. A key component of TERSat payload is the STACER (Spiral Tube & Actuator for Controlled Extension/Retraction) antenna that will be used to transmit and receive VLF signals. A microgravity environment on a parabolic flight would enable testing of the deployment mechanism and antenna dynamics under flight- like load conditions, adding confidence in the STACER deployment system design. Problem Statement The STACER antenna poses two challenges to the TERSat mission: (1) The deployment mechanism has several possible modes of failure, some of which can be influenced by gravity, (2) It is important to understand the structural resonant frequency and behavior of the STACER for designing the satellite control algorithms, but STACER dynamics are difficult to measure on the ground. Technology Maturation The STACER deployment system is currently at TRL 4. To fulfill TRL 6, the STACER system must undergo operational testing in microgravity, such as on parabolic flight.

The TERSat system will support AFRL and NASA users and scientists at MIT and Stanford.

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