268:, the antenna was successfully inflated and the correct final shape was attained. According to the final mission report, the mission was successful and gained a great deal of information about inflating large structures in space. Among the points that the Spartan 207 project proved was the viability of inflatable space structures as a cost-saving concept. The inflatable antenna weighed only about 132 pounds (60 kilograms) and an operational version of the antenna may be developed for less than $ 10 million - a substantial savings over current mechanically deployable hard structures that may cost as much as $ 200 million to develop and deliver to space.
329:, under the direction of NASA, developed a solar sail configuration that utilized inflatable rigidized boom components to achieve 10,000 m sailcraft with a real density of 14.1 g/m and potential acceleration of 0.58 mm/s. The entire configuration released by the upper stage has a mass of 232.9 kg and required just 1.7 m of volume in the booster. Additional advancement of the solar sail project came as LGarde engineers improved “sailcraft” coordinate systems and proposed a standard to report propulsion performance.
309:
53:
46:
300:), engineers found that such composites can be used to fabricate ultra-lightweight deployable rigidizable structures for space applications and that polyurethane was chosen because it could become rigid when exposed to the low temperatures of space. The paper goes on to observe that under NASA's SSP program (
241:
going back to the 1960s. Observing the advantages and challenges of deploying a very large inflatable antenna and other structures in Earth orbit using this technology, LGarde engineers also observed changes in structural principles when such structures are used in a zero-gravity environment, and
282:
A project, conducted with JPL under NASA's
Gossamer Spacecraft program in 1999, sought to build an inflatable reflector to concentrate solar energy for space electrical power generation, while acting as a large aperture high gain antenna. Among the goals of the Gossamer Spacecraft program was to
286:
Additional development came in 2005, when LGarde began utilizing material rigidization methods that provide a long lasting reflector shape without requiring continuous inflation. Engineers settled on an aluminum/plastic laminate as the rigidization method of choice over cold rigidization of a
291:
thermoplasticelastomer composite as a means of accomplishing two goals: 1) diminish stowage space and thereby expanding the potential aperture size of the mirror reflectors and 2) eliminate the need for “make-up” gas needed for purely inflatable reflectors to remain inflated in space. LGarde
336:, which would have been the world's largest solar sail. Slated for launch in January 2015, Sunjammer was constructed of Kapton and was 38 metres (125 ft) square with a total surface area of over 1,200 square metres (13,000 sq ft), providing a thrust of about 0.01
232:
LGarde engineers took their experience with inflatable structures for military use to space applications around 1992 as a means of controlling the cost of deploying instrumentation into Earth orbit and beyond. They studied development work and lessons learned from projects for the
344:
thick with a low weight of about 32 kilograms (70 lb). To control its orientation, Sunjammer would have used gimballed vanes (each of which is itself a small solar sail) located at the tips of each of its 4 booms completely eliminating the need for standard propellant.
295:
Going into 2002, LGarde was developing polyurethane resins for a 3-ply composite laminate that could be used in the fabrication of rigidizable structures suitable for use in space. In a paper submitted to the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
292:
engineers later advanced the readiness level of the inflatable planar support structure for the gossamer antenna system with additional design, analysis, testing, and fabrication of an inflation-deployed rigidized support structure for the waveguide array.
320:
could reflect photons streaming from the sun and convert some of the energy into thrust. The resulting thrust, though small, is continuous and acts for the life of the mission without the need for propellant. In 2003, LGarde, together with partners JPL,
304:
Truss), a 24-foot long inflatable-rigidizable truss using polyurethane composites withstood a compression load of 556 pounds, 10% above its designed compression strength while reducing mass of comparable mechanical structures by a factor of 4.
275:. Among the many detail design parameters they considered were tube design (for rigidizable material), alternative beam types and designs (e.g., trusses), material thickness, laminates, and the best way to resolve Euler
195:
and other thin-film inflatable space structures using its unique application of rigidizable tube technology. The company's unusual name is an acronym formed by the initials of the founding partners: Bill
722:
Ridell, F. H.; D. Lichodziejewski; J. Kleber; G. Greschik (18 April 2005). "Testing of an inflation-deployed sub-Tg rigidized support structure for a planar membrane waveguide antenna".
878:
271:
LGarde engineers expanded their development of inflatable rigidizable structures with low mass structures strong enough to support orbital large solar arrays as well as much smaller
238:
191:(Star Wars). After the Cold-War, the company used the technologies and manufacturing techniques it had developed to land a contract to design and build the
183:. The company was an early pioneer of thin-skinned, multi-task inflatable structures used in various military and space applications. At the height of the
775:
Derbes, B.; D Lichodziejewski; J Ellis; D Scheeres (8 February 2004). "Sailcraft
Coordinate Systems And Format For Reporting Propulsive Performance".
623:
594:
882:
760:
Lichodziejewski, D; B. Derbès; J. West; R. Reinert; K. Belvin; R. Pappa (20 July 2003). "Bringing an
Effective Solar Sail Design Toward TRL 6".
703:
Redell, F.H.; J Kleber; D Lichodziejewski; G Greschik (2005). "Inflatable-Rigidizable Solar
Concentrators for Space Power Applications".
257:, May 19. 1996. The goal of this mission was to inflate a 14-meter antenna on three 28-meter struts built by LGarde under contract with
234:
187:, L·Garde developed and manufactured inflatable targets and decoy systems for U.S. military defense, and countermeasure systems for the
742:
Guidanean, K; D. Lichodziejewski (2002). "An
Inflatable Rigidizable Truss Structure Based on New Sub-Tg Polyurethane Composites".
532:
348:
On
October 17, 2014, NASA cancelled the Sunjammer project after investing four years and more than $ 21 million on the project.
308:
242:
other technical issues arising for large precision structures including surface accuracy, analysis and electrical properties.
283:
reduce the mass and stowage volumes of a power antenna while maintaining comparable yield from electrical power generation.
560:
Thomas, M (December 1992). "Inflatable Space
Structures Redefining Aerospace Design Concepts Keeps Costs from Ballooning".
395:
246:
192:
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188:
724:
Collection of
Technical Papers, for AIAA, ASME, ASCE, AHS, ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
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Collection of
Technical Papers for AIAA, ASME, ASCE, AHS, ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
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Cassapakis, C; M. Thomas (26 September 1995). "Inflatable Structures Technology Development Overview".
447:
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LGarde's first inflatable space structure project was the Spartan 207 Project, also known as the
667:
Derbès, B (1999). "Case Studies in Inflatable Rigidizable Structural Concepts for Space Power".
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496:"Technology on the Rise: Tustin Firm's Inflatable Antenna Passes a Key Test in Orbit"
337:
685:
Lichodziejewski, D.; C. Cassapakis (1999). "Inflatable Power Antenna Technology".
261:. The project was developed under NASA's In-STEP technology development program.
224:" (and others) as a tip to other partners and original employees of the company.
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649:"Mission Report, Spartan Project - Inflatable Antenna Experiment (Sp207/IAE)".
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422:"Trial Balloons : L'Garde Plans 'Space Art' for Goodwill Games"
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221:
93:
Bill Larkin, Gayle Bilyeu, Alan Hirasuna, Rick Walstrom, Don Davis
879:"NASA Nixes Sunjammer Mission, Cites Integration, Schedule Risk"
473:"NASA Chief Technologist to Visit Tustin's L'Garde Inc Thursday"
297:
762:
39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
51:
44:
520:
Lichodziejewski, D; G Veal; R Helms; R Freeland; M Kruer.
522:"Inflatable Rigidizable Solar Array for Small Satellites"
448:"O.C.'s Military Contractors Are Vulnerable but Hopeful"
149:
852:"World's Largest Solar Sail to Launch in November 2014"
795:"World's Largest Solar Sail to Launch in November 2014"
698:
696:
818:
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AIAA 1995 Space Programs and Technologies Conference
396:"NASA to Launch World's Largest Solar Sail in 2014"
332:LGarde was selected by NASA to build construct the
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119:
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97:
89:
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71:
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825:"Solar Sail Demonstration (The Sunjammer Project)"
446:Christian, Susan; Cristina Lee (24 January 1992).
171:and defense technology company founded in 1971 in
19:"L'Garde" redirects here. Not to be confused with
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16:American aerospace and defense technology company
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595:"NASA Report, Space Shuttle Mission STS-77"
340:. The ultrathin 'sail' material was only 5
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823:Brooke, Boen, ed. (December 16, 2011).
777:AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting
357:
175:and is the primary contractor for the
538:from the original on October 21, 2013
7:
744:43rd AIAA SDM Conference Proceedings
687:37th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting
669:37th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting
529:Defense Technical Information Center
850:David, Leonard (January 31, 2013).
235:United States Department of Defense
881:. Space News. NASA. Archived from
394:David, Leonard (31 January 2013).
14:
829:Technology Demonstration Missions
651:NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
624:"NASA Press Kit, Mission STS-77"
316:It had been long theorized that
877:Leone, Dan (17 October 2014).
494:Cohn, Meredith (22 May 1996).
420:Takahashi, Dean (9 May 1990).
1:
371:. LGarde, Inc. Archived from
264:Deployed using the shuttle's
247:Inflatable Antenna Experiment
220:" comes from the Latin term "
193:inflatable antenna experiment
793:Wall, Mike (June 13, 2013).
189:Strategic Defense Initiative
927:
249:, which was launched with
18:
531:. Department of Defense.
475:. NASA News. 9 March 2012
266:Remote Manipulator System
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327:Langley Research Center
251:Space Shuttle Endeavour
136:Missile Defense Targets
626:. NASA. Archived from
597:. NASA. Archived from
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56:
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653:. February 14, 1997.
334:Sunjammer spacecraft
312:Sunjammer Solar Sail
179:, the world largest
177:Sunjammer spacecraft
101:15181 Woodlawn Ave,
911:Aerospace companies
885:on October 18, 2014
630:on 31 December 2013
375:on 2 September 2013
124:Deployable Antennas
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858:. TechMediaNetwork
801:. TechMediaNetwork
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57:
50:
764:. AIAA 2003-4659.
726:. AIAA-2005-1880.
601:on 4 January 2013
500:Los Angeles Times
452:Los Angeles Times
426:Los Angeles Times
302:Space Solar Power
173:Orange County, CA
167:, is an American
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887:. Retrieved
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98:Headquarters
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889:18 November
634:30 December
605:30 December
318:solar sails
253:on mission
111:Area served
562:Potentials
352:References
181:solar sail
103:Tustin, CA
856:Space.com
799:Space.com
542:21 August
505:21 August
479:21 August
457:21 August
431:21 August
405:21 August
400:Space.com
379:21 August
169:aerospace
115:Worldwide
76:Aerospace
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862:June 15,
835:June 15,
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533:Archived
277:buckling
273:nanosats
237:and the
185:Cold War
120:Products
90:Founders
72:Industry
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228:History
200:arkin,
165:L·Garde
161:L'Garde
159:, also
146:Website
82:Founded
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325:, and
289:Kevlar
255:STS-77
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536:(PDF)
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298:AIAA
239:NASA
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85:1971
259:JPL
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