Space Systems Design Studio

• Project Overview
• Applications
• Research
• Lab Projects
• Publications

Flux Pinning Applications

Complex Structure Assembly

Flux pinning can provide stiffness capable of supporting large, non-contacting space structures in the presence of perturbations. These scalable structures may attract and self-assemble new components.

In addition to examining the dynamical properties of a flux-pinned system, we are interested in applying flux pinning to particular vehicle formations. In these situations, the actual algorithm for assembly and reconfiguration become important. One particular formation of interest is the concept of a large aperture flux-pinned space telescope. Flux pinning represents an attractive solution to management of the relative motion of the individual spacecraft by offering a non-contacting, modular, reconfigurable, and passively stable connection.

For more information, see:

• Gersh, "Architecting the Very-Large-Aperture Flux-Pinned Space Telescope: A Scalable, Modular Optical Array with High Agility and Passively Stable Orbital Dynamics"
• Norman, "Stationkeeping and Reconfiguration of a Flux-Pinned Satellite Network"

Back to top

Actuatable Docking Augmentation

Flux-pinned interfaces offer a variety of advantages to spacecraft performing rendezvous and docking maneuvers. When the FPI-augmented spacecraft enter the close-proximity phase of the docking sequence, they are drawn into the superconductor's potential well, which helps line up the two docking modules. Once the spaceraft have reached their equilibrium distance from one another, flux pinning provides a passive collision mitigation force on the two modules preventing the two modules from overshooting their equilibrium.

Finally, by tuning the strength of the magnetic field, the flux through the HTSC surface changes, resulting in a change in the properties of the flux-pinned connection. Through this process, we may be able to achieve actuation of the augmented docking interface, and therefore perform soft-contact docking maneuvers or simply maintain an actuatable interface between two modules.

For more information, see:

• Jones and Wilson, "Design Parameters and Validation for a Non-Contacting Flux-Pinned Docking Interface"
• Norman, "Stationkeeping and Reconfiguration of a Flux-Pinned Satellite Network"
• Shoer, "Flux-Pinned Interfaces for the Assembly, Manipulation, and Reconfiguration of Modular Space Systems"

Back to top

Non-contacting Mechanisms

Since the flux-pinning effect is based upon changes in magnetic flux through the HTSC volume, any motion that does not change the flux distribution is unaffected by flux pinning. These degrees of freedom in a system allow the creation of non-contacting mechanisms. A system can toggle the number and type of kinematic constraints by energizing or moving electromagnets. Our research has demonstrated flux-pinned revolute joints (hinges) both on an air table in our laboratory and in a NASA microgravity aircraft program.

For more information, see:

• Shoer and Peck, "Sequences of Passively Stable Dynamic Equilibria for Hybrid Control of Reconfigurable Spacecraft"
• Wilson, Shoer, and Peck, "Demonstration of a Magnetic Locking Flux-Pinned Revolute Joint for Use on CubeSat-Standard Spacecraft"
• Shoer and Peck, "Reconfigurable Spacecraft as Kinematic Mechanisms Based on Flux-Pinning Interactions"
• Shoer, "Flux-Pinned Interfaces for the Assembly, Manipulation, and Reconfiguration of Modular Space Systems"

Back to top

Contactless Grappling

Flux pinning provides a possible means to manipulate objects at close proximity without mechanical contact via magnetic field interactions. Contact-free interactions could be useful for handling delicate components. Grappling devices based on flux pinning could attach to target objects, without special mating hardware built into the target, by inducing and pinning a magnetic field.

Back to top

Close-Proximity Formation Flight

Environmental forces can cause objects in orbit to drift apart. Flux pinning can augment a multibody system's dynamics by tying the relative motions of disparate components together. The stiffness and damping of the connections are particularly well-suited to act over short distances.

For more information, see:

• Norman, "Stationkeeping and Reconfiguration of a Flux-Pinned Satellite Network"
• Norman and Peck, "Modeling and Properties of a Flux-Pinned Network of Satellites"
• Shoer, "Flux-Pinned Interfaces for the Assembly, Manipulation, and Reconfiguration of Modular Space Systems"

Back to top

Particulate Solar Sails

Traditional solar sail architectures involve large, thin, reflective membranes stretched across lightweight structural elements, a design that has many well-documented engineering challenges. We have proposed an alternative, “fractionated” solar sail in which the sail itself is composed of small particles held in place by flux pinning.

Not only does a “particulate solar sail” provide a unique solution to the current engineering complexities of solar sailing, it also provides the flexibility and robustness inherent in a discrete, fractionated space system. This system could be assembled in multiple launches to take advantage of incremental mission funding and the availability of smaller launch vehicles. Such a system may also lend itself better to in-situ repair missions. Further, a sail made of small independent particles would be highly fault tolerant to both launch-vehicle failures and micrometeoroids. The discrete nature of the particular solar sail’s surface allows small portions to be damaged without affecting the overall performance of the sail, making this sail design especially suitable for proposed missions to asteroids and comets or other small-body rendezvous where the risk of such collisions is high.

For more information, see:

• Jones, "Prospects and Challenges of Particulate Solar Sail Propulsion"

Back to top