Deployment of an Inflatable Tube under Microgravity Condition.

An inflatable tube is used for separation of two satellites which artificially generate variable gravity environment by rotating each other. This tube is deployed by nitrogen gas and it gets sufficient rigidity finally. Behavior at deployment of the inflatable tube which had been stowed in a test apparatus at first was monitored under microgravity using the world longest dropshaft. The satellite model was successfully deployed, even though it encountered a catastrophic break Up. It verified that inflatable tube had excellent characteristics of recovering from a break up by increasing inner gas pressure. Typical break up condition of tube was analyzed by numerical simulation. Experimental data was successfully explained by the analysis.