Experimental determination of the dynamic behavior of a multifunctional power structure

A main aim of spacecraft design is cost reduction that can either be achieved by reducing the cost of the spacecraft or by lowering the cost to launch. One proposed technology to reduce the mass and therefore lower the launch costs is the multifunctional power structure concept that incorporates the secondary spacecraft power supply into the load carrying structure. Here a short introduction of the dynamic. analysis and optimization of such a structure is presented. The manufacture and testing of a multifunctional power panel is discussed in detail and its dynamic response is compared to a conventional honeycomb panel. The multifunctional design successfully combined the structural and power storage functions. It provided a similar dynamic response to conventional spacecraft structures and improved the energy density.