| Dessription |
Small-satellites and CubeSats offer a low-cost pathway to access Low Earth Orbit at altitudes of 450 km and lower thanks to miniaturization and advancement in reliability of commercial electronics. In this work, the authors analyse the feasibility of using inflatable de-orbit devices that are triggered passively when a spacecraft is tumbling. Inflatables have already been proposed as hypersonic deccelerators that would carry large payload to the Martian surface. However, these systems are quite complex and need to withstand high-forces, temperature and enable survival of a critical payload. Furthermore, inflatables have been proposed as communication antennas and as structures using a class of sublimates that turn into gas under the vacuum of space. These inflatables system are relatively simple and does not require a specialized inflation system. Furthermore, these inflatable can be rigidized using UV curable resin that hardens the inflatable shell. |
