TY - GEN
T1 - Investigating new space structures with the FOCUS experiment
AU - Reiss, Philipp
AU - Breunig, Elias
AU - Zimmerhakl, Philipp
AU - Newie, Nora
AU - Zeiner, Andreas
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - FOCUS (First Orbital Curing Experiment of University Students) is a space experiment which was launched in February 2011 within the European REXUS (Rocket-borne Experiments for University Students) programme. The experiment, realized by a group of aerospace students from Technische Universitàt Miinchen, was performed in order to investigate the feasibility of a new technology concerning the manufacturing of ultra large space structures. The approach to build these structures by using a composite material, respectively a construction with glass fibre strings which is in situ curable, has been tested and verified on a parabolic zéro gravity flight on-board a sounding rocket. This paper describes the scientific approach as well as the technological development of the composite structure and the design of the experiment. Furthermore the realization of the experiment including the results of the flight campaign is presented. Finally the potential next steps in developing this technology and its possible future applications are discussed.
AB - FOCUS (First Orbital Curing Experiment of University Students) is a space experiment which was launched in February 2011 within the European REXUS (Rocket-borne Experiments for University Students) programme. The experiment, realized by a group of aerospace students from Technische Universitàt Miinchen, was performed in order to investigate the feasibility of a new technology concerning the manufacturing of ultra large space structures. The approach to build these structures by using a composite material, respectively a construction with glass fibre strings which is in situ curable, has been tested and verified on a parabolic zéro gravity flight on-board a sounding rocket. This paper describes the scientific approach as well as the technological development of the composite structure and the design of the experiment. Furthermore the realization of the experiment including the results of the flight campaign is presented. Finally the potential next steps in developing this technology and its possible future applications are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859909963&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84859909963
SN - 9789290922643
T3 - European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
SP - 529
EP - 535
BT - Proceedings of the 20th ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research
T2 - 20th ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research
Y2 - 22 May 2011 through 26 May 2011
ER -