H2020 Pegasus Project

PEGASUS (Flight Qualification of Deployable Radiator using Two Phase Technology) is a Project in the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme, focused on the Activity COMPET-1-2014 “Technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness” that has been finish after the conclusion of test campaign.

The increasing demand of power rejection in present and future satellites, mainly for telecommunication applications, requires the development of deployable radiator panels which can be stowed for launch and then deployed once the satellite is on its orbit. In particular, in the case of the full electric propulsion systems for new telecom platforms, the need of deployable radiators to cover the main communications panels (north-south) during the orbit raising time (up to 180 days) is the most common baseline design demanded by the telecom satellite manufacturers. Once in nominal operation orbit, such deployable radiators are used to provide the corresponding extra heat rejection capability of the satellite and therefore to increase payload transponders amount and type.

The main objective of this project was to develop, manufacture and test a Deployable Thermal Radiator (DPR) Qualification Model to bring the DPR product to a Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 8. The DPR architecture is based on Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs).

Being a multi-technology research project, the consortium has a multi-disciplinary knowledge in very different technical areas related to overall thermal issues, mechanical aspects and new materials development. The contribution of each of the partners to the proposed research is based on its specific background related to one or several of the technologies.

IBERESPACIO was the coordinator of the project and it was the responsible of the design, manufacturing and testing of the DPR.
IberEspacio, as a leader in providing thermal control products, has the necessary expertise to design, manufacture and test the proposed DPR design. Furthermore, being LHP part of the core business of the company, IberEspacio ensures the maximum interest in this project and its compromise to make the required effort for its success, and to assure the future usefulness of the results.

THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE was in charge of the system specification issuing for a telecom application and ensure all along the project the consistency between the system needs and the DPR development, by review and comment all documentation available at each step of the project. Based on its skills in mechanism, TAS-F helps the consortium in the development of the deployment mechanism to be fully compliant with system requirements.

THALES ALENIA SPACE ITALY has wide expertise in design, integration and operation of large space systems. TAS-I was charge of radiator panel for LEO applications design, manufacturing and testing to demonstrate the scalability, flexibility and adaptability of the proposed DPR design. Also, gives support in test vacuum campaign of different DPR models.

SENER was responsible for the design, manufacturing, assembly and testing of the DPR Deployment Mechanism for Development and Qualification model.

ACTIVE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES was responsible for the structural modelling and manufacturing of the machined parts of the DPR QM and the prototypes. Additionally, was in charge of the design and manufacturing of MGSE, as well as of the mechanical testing of the DPR QM with the support of IberEspacio.

TECNALIA was in charge of the new materials development, in particular the replacement of the chromium-based coatings currently used in the DPR by alternative chromium-free surface treatments and coatings.