Structures

Structures

The Structures subsystem is responsible for the design of the physical bus of the satellite. This physical platform supports and integrates all other subsystems together into one spacecraft. In designing the satellite structure, there are many important structural considerations including materials, structural integrity, and mass.

The Structures subsystem needs to ensure the structure of the satellite can withstand the extreme conditions found during launch or while in space while simultaneously keeping costs and weight to a minimum. To accomplish this task, material selection and finite element modelling are used to achieve an optimal structural design.

Once the satellite structure is designed and manufactured, the structure is vigorously tested to ensure it will survive the harsh conditions found during launch and in space.

Pictured above are close-up images of the MR-SAT body, manufactured from aluminum.