On-orbit manufacture of lightweight, high-strength, advanced-composite structures using the pultrusion process is proposed. This process is adaptable to a zero-gravity environment by using preimpregnated graphite-fiber reinforcement systems. The reinforcement material is preimpregnated with a high-performance thermoplastic resin at a ground station, is coiled on spools for compact storage, and is transported into Earth orbit. A pultrusion machine is installed in the Shuttle cargo bay from which very long lengths of the desired structure is fabricated on-orbit. Potential structural profiles include rods, angles, channels, hat sections, tubes, honeycomb-cored panels, and T, H, and I beams. A potential pultrudable thermoplastic/graphite composite material is presented as a model for determining the effect on Earth-to-orbit package density of an on-orbit manufacture, the package density is increased by 132 percent, and payload volume requirement is decreased by 56.3 percent. The fabrication method has the potential for on-orbit manufacture of structural members for space platforms, large space antennas, and long tethers.
Potential for On-Orbit Manufacture of Large Space Structures Using the Pultrusion Process
1987
20 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Composite Materials , Engineering Materials , Unmanned Spacecraft , Manned Spacecraft , Large space structures , Orbital assembly , Pultrusion , Space manufacturing , Space shuttle payloads , Structural members , Channels , Coils , Fiber reinforced composites , Graphite , Honeycomb cores , Pipes (Tubes) , Rods , Space platforms , Tethering , Thermoplastic resins
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