Investigating new space structures with the FOCUS experiment

FOCUS (First Orbital Curing Experiment of University Students) is a space experiment which was launched in February 2011 within the European REXUS (Rocketborne Experiments for University Students) programme. The experiment, realized by a group of aerospace students from Technische Universität München, was performed in order to investigate the feasibility of a new technology concerning the manufacturing of ultra large space structures. The approach to build these structures by using a composite material, respectively a construction with glass fibre strings which is in situ curable, has been tested and verified on a parabolic zero gravity flight on-board a sounding rocket. This paper describes the scientific approach as well as the technological development of the composite structure and the design of the experiment. Furthermore the realization of the experiment including the results of the flight campaign is presented. Finally the potential next steps in developing this technology and its possible future applications are discussed.     «

FOCUS (First Orbital Curing Experiment of University Students) is a space experiment which was launched in February 2011 within the European REXUS (Rocketborne Experiments for University Students) programme. The experiment, realized by a group of aerospace students from Technische Universität München, was performed in order to investigate the feasibility of a new technology concerning the manufacturing of ultra large space structures. The approach to build these structures by using a composite m...     »