Monocoque Composite Sandwich Satellite Structures for Korea STSAT III

Composite sandwich structures are widely employed in the space applications, because composite sandwich panels have high specific stiffness and bending strength compared to solid panels. In this study, the monocoque satellite structure of Korean Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT) was developed with the composite sandwich constructions to improve the rigidity of the satellite structures and to reduce structural mass compared to the conventional aluminum frame structure.
In this study, adhesion reliability of the composite satellites structure, between the composite face and aluminum honeycomb panel, between the composite face and the aluminum I-shape side insert, between the composite sandwich panel and the partial insert, and between the composite panels with T-shape joints, were investigated experimentally. Also, a new type insert, which is called hybrid insert, was developed to increase the specific strength of the inserts.