Deployment Test Methods for a Large Deployable Mesh Reflector

The deployment characteristicsof large structures must be evaluated by ground tests. A deployment test system is described that enables high-precision gravity canceling, in contrast to the conventional radial support test method (hanging a ree ector by cables suspended from a high ceiling ). A large deployable ree ector composed of hexagonal pyramid-shaped modules is used in the deployment test. The ree ector is deployed by a coil spring force and controlled by motors and cables for a quasistatic stable deployment motion. A magnetically suspended slider test system was developed for accurate deployment tests. We cone rm that hanging at the pantograph bar is the most suitable test cone guration to simulate microgravity conditions, according to one-sided model experiments and deploying forceanalyses using mechanism analysissoftware. We also establish that a vertical support method, using thedevelopedmagneticallysuspendedsliders,enableshigh-precisiondeploymentfora largedeployablemesh ree ector.