University of Liège; educational spacecraft project SSETI-ESEO; uropean Space Agency
Abstract :
[en] The objective of this presentation is to discuss the participation of students at the University of Liège to the educational spacecraft project SSETI-ESEO proposed by the European Space Agency. SSETI students are now mainly involved in the ESEO satellite for which the University of Liège is in charge of the MECH work package. The students have to propose a design for the structure of the solar panels (including the geometry and materials) and their deployment and pointing mechanisms (including electrical circuits, motors, hinges and actuators). Through detailed finite element computations in the SAMCEF software, they have to verify the structural integrity of the panels during the launch phase and to guarantee a safe deployment once on-orbit. Another task is to ensure an appropriate orientation of the solar panels to collect the maximum power from the sun. An industrial partner specialized in the development of computer-aided engineering solutions, SAMTECH, and a research center, Liège Space Center (CSL), also bring their expertise to the project.