satellite, and a large antenna. Many interdisciplinary astronautical problems, such as the control of very flexible space structures, and the ground simulation technology for very flexible large space structures, will be studied through the development phases of this experiment. The proposed experiment would provide a unique opportunity to develop a large 2-d array of about 250m2. The value of 250m2 will offer the solar power of about 50 kw in near future. Many tests of the array, such as the deployment and retrieval test, the vibration test, the control tests, and the power generation test, are proposed. Configuration and Characteristics The 2-d array system primarily consists of a blanket and masts. The blanket is subjected to tension for stabilizing the overall structure, and the extendable masts are compression members which support the blanket. The various possible deployed configurations of the array are shown in Fig. 3. As shown in the figure, these are classified according to overall shape and constitution. A hexagonal shape has better area efficiency than a rectangular one, but it is more complex. A radial rib type structure seems to have easier deployment properties than a hoop type one, but there is interaction between the blanket and masts. It seems feasible that the array is excited through the pulsed operation of the platform thrusters. Vibration control of the blanket is actively carried out through the change of tension. A possible configuration of the load measurement test is shown in Fig. 4. The array inclined to the flight direction is subjected to atmospheric drag, and it is kept in an equilibrium state through the control torque of the platform. This equilibrium attitude angle a is measured in various conditions of rotation angle ft. Another configuration having two large 2-d arrays is possible for this load measurement test, and in this case the atmospheric torque is balanced by the gravity gradient torque.
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