Mechanics and Thermal Systems Department

DEAR 100W membranbased Solararray
(artistic representation)
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Innovative thin-film photovoltaics
Applications of thin-film photovoltaics on membranes for large, lightweight and deployable solar cell surfaces.
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Mechanical-dynamic test laboratory
Shaker tests to represent the conditions during launch and ascent of a rocket.
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The department focuses on design, realization and qualification of space mechanisms, membrane applications and thermal control systems. Numerical analysis software tools or customized developments are applied for mechanical and thermal design. Research is conducted to investigate radiation long-term effects on the mechanical and thermal behavior of materials in space.

These developments are used in national and international space missions such as InSight or MMX and feature a high technology transfer potential as for the CREAM (Collet Release Mechanism) Technology.

A specific focus lays on the development of deployment systems for solar arrays for power generation, drag sails for space debris mitigation and sun shades for propellant depots or optical instruments. In this context, besides system aspects, all technical competences of the department are needed and used. In the field of thinfilm materials requirements wrt. temperature cycles, radiation and atomic oxygen are determined for the different applications by means of mission analyses. This is followed by the material selection, material refinement as well as by specially defined qualification strategies to investigate long term effects. The material refinement for small and large thinfilm material applications as well as the application of photovoltaics is another core topic in the development of deployment systems.

The department operates vibration, pyroshock and thermal-vacuum test facilities to verify and qualify developments during their design process for internal and external customers. These capabilities are complemented by an irradiation facility to investigate the effect of electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation on the mechanical and thermooptical properties of materials. Further facilities to determine outgassing and thermooptical properties are operated. A continuous enhancement of test capabilities as well as the extension of the facilities especially for non-standard testing are also part of the research of the department.

Research Topics

Laboratories and Facilities

PLUTO

CREAM

DEAR

ADEO-L braking sail successfully deployed in the laboratory

The results of years of DLR research into components for use in braking sails for satellites are now being put into practice in collaboration with the company HPS. Braking sails are intended to ensure faster removal of decommissioned satellites from low Earth orbit.

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Contact

Tom Spröwitz

German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Systems
Mechanics and Thermal Systems
Bremen