In SSAU established Russian-Chinese laboratory "Space Cable Systems"

Scientists of the Department of Space Engineering in Samara State Aerospace University, together with Chinese colleagues from the Institute of Automation in Northwestern Polytechnical University will be engaged in researches in the field of space cable systems.
 

A joint Russian-Chinese Laboratory led by Sergey Ishkov, Professor of SSAU and Wang Wei, Professor of NWPU, is created for that purpose.
 

"Cable systems are current trends in the modern astronautics, - said Sergey Ishkov, Head of the Laboratory, Professor of the Department of Space Engineering. – the interest in such systems occurs periodically in different countries". 
 

According to the scientist, this theme is attractive because it affects many areas of science and technology: computer science, mechanics and flight dynamics, mechatronics, instrument engineering.
 

"The solution of technical problems can only be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach", - said the researcher.
 

In the professor’s opinion, one of the case examples of a cable use in space is payload disorbit without use of backward boost.
 

 "The existing world experience of cable systems appliance in space indicates that, along with deep theoretical studies it’s necessary to perform more detailed ground experimental method of all system elements. This will be the main line of work for the new laboratory, "- explained Sergey Ishkov.

The scientists from China and Russia will conduct joint research in SSAU in the field of space cable systems, develop theoretical methods of their design, create hardware and software complex for motion simulation of the system elements.
 

Development of experimental testing methods for the elements of motion control systems on the ground is a separate direction.
 

It is planned that the laboratory will be the basis for the creation of new postgraduate and master's programs in this area of ​​scientific researches.
 

Xu Xiao, a graduate student of NWPU performs his thesis research is SSAU under the leadership of Sergey Ishkov.
 

For reference

On the initiative of Professor Igor Belokonov, SSAU scientists executed scientific support of the European Project YES-2 ("Youth Research Satellite-2") since 2003.
 

His task was to demonstrate the possibility of the cable system for goods delivery (for example, the results of space experiments) to the Earth without the use of engines.
 

An ultra-light cable from polyethylene fiber dyneema with a weight of 5.4 kg, a diameter of 0.5 mm and a length of 30 km was used during the experiment. The experiment was conducted during the flight of "Foton-M3" in 2007 and is considered a partially successful: the 30-kilometer cable unwound, the capsule separation was performed, but it was impossible to find a place of its landing.
 

This theme interested the colleagues from the People's Republic of China. At their invitation, Northwestern Polytechnical University (Xi'an) was visited by SSAU Professors Sergey Ishkov and Vadim Salmin. Professor Ishkov made a presentation on the cable systems during the visit.