Research Progress on High-Performance Fiber Braided Ropes for Spacecraft Applications

To address the application needs of high-performance fiber braided ropes in lightweight spacecraft structures such as space tethers, truss-type mesh deployable antennas, and thermal knife hold-down and release mechanisms, this article introduces the performance characteristics of commonly used high-performance organic fibers in the aerospace industry, the geometric structural types of braided ropes, and their current applications in spacecraft structures.

The main challenges in applying braided ropes in spacecraft structures are analyzed. It is concluded that the creep and stress relaxation properties of braided ropes are key factors affecting the structural stability of spacecraft during long-term service. The influence of factors such as fiber materials, environmental conditions, and load levels on the creep and stress relaxation performance of braided ropes is elaborated. Finally, some critical issues in current research are highlighted, and suggestions for future studies are proposed, aiming to provide references for the development of high-performance, high-stability, tunable, and controllable braided ropes for aerospace applications.

Keywords: Spacecraft; Thermal Knife Hold-Down and Release Mechanism; Braided Ropes; Creep; Stress Relaxation

With advancements in fiber preparation technology, the comprehensive performance of high-performance organic fibers such as aramid fibers, polyarylate fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, and polyimide fibers has been further improved. High-performance fiber braided ropes offer advantages such as lightweight, high strength and modulus, wear resistance, design flexibility, and ease of processing. They have successfully replaced metal ropes in many fields and are highly favored by researchers in space exploration and lightweight structural design of next-generation spacecraft.

In the 1960s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began utilizing the unique properties of high-performance fiber braided ropes for space tether experiments, uncovering their potential applications in artificial gravity, spacecraft orbit maintenance, and space tethered robots. As space station crews began undertaking long-term missions, resistance ropes in advanced exercise devices such as the Treadmill Vibration Isolation Stabilization (TVIS) system and the Interim Resistance Exercise Device (IRED) have ensured the health and mission-specific performance of astronauts.

In recent years, the demand for high-performance fiber braided ropes in lightweight spacecraft structures, such as mesh deployable antennas and thermal knife hold-down and release mechanisms, has become increasingly urgent. Compared to space tethers, mesh deployable antennas and thermal knife hold-down and release mechanisms impose higher requirements on the dimensional and performance stability of braided ropes. During long-term service, the creep and stress relaxation behavior of braided ropes in space environments—such as vacuum, high-low temperature alternation, radiation, and atomic oxygen—has become a critical factor in their development and application.

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