Vibration Modal Analysis of a Deployable Boom Integrated to a CubeSat

CubeSat or Cubic Satellite is an effective method to study the space around the Earth thanks to its low cost, easy maintenance and short lead time. However, a great challenge of small satellites lies in achieving technical and scientific requirements during the design stage. In the present work primary focus is given to dynamic characterization of the deployable tape-spring boom in order to verify and study the boom deployment dynamic effects on the satellite. The deployed boom dynamic characteristics were studied through simulations and experimental testing. The gravity off- loading system was used to simulate weightlessness environment in the experimental testing and simulations showed that the deployment of the system influence the results in a different way depending on the vibration mode shape.