Design, fabrication and experimental verification of a drag sail based on thermal-driven controllable bi-stable shape memory polymer composite booms

Deployable drag sails are used for passively deorbiting defunct satellites and other spacecraft. Designing the deployable boom is the main challenge in this technology. We present a bi-stable shape memory polymer composite (Bi-SMPC) boom with high stiffness, a high unfolding/folding ratio, and consistent roll-out deployment. It was designed and fabricated by a strategy of controlling the gradual release of elastic energy stored in a bi-stable composite structure through thermal-driven SMP matrix. Two heating layer strategies were investigated experimentally to determine the optimal driving layer and driving parameters. Based on these parameters, verification tests of a four-stage deployment Bi-SMPC boom were conducted. Meanwhile, a proof-of-concept prototype of a four-stage deployment drag sail based on the Bi-SMPC booms was designed and fabricated. Tests were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the drag sail deployed by the booms. It was found that SMPs can effectively control the deployment of bistable composite structures. The nickel-chromium alloy heating layer offers a more uniform driving temperature field compared to carbon fiber. The drag sail can be deployed successfully under the driving of four Bi-SMPC booms.