Application of Passive Solutions to Micro Vibration Mitigation in Space Applications

Spaceships and satellites are subjected to micro or nano scale vibratory disturbances negatively influencing performance of onboard sensitive subsystems. This issue is more important in scientific missions requiring high pointing stability. Onboard vibratory sources, such as reaction wheels, electrical motors, cryogenic machines, and cryogenic machines generate micro and nano scale disturbances. The stringent stability requirements lead to mitigating the propagation of such disturbances. The mechanical environment is defined by high magnitude loads generated during the launch and low-level loads generated by the decoupled equipment (CMG, RW, etc.) during the orbital life. Two types of solutions, based on specific elastomer, can be considered. The 1st one is based on passively decouple RWs and CMGs. This isolator has to withstand the launch loads with limited dynamic amplification and to efficiently mitigate the micro vibrations due to cryogenic machines during orbital operation. The 2nd one is based on the application of Tuned Mass Damper (or TMD). TMDs are introduced to reduce the high dynamic amplifications at structural resonances. Both solutions are based on SMACTANE. The architecture of these combined solutions and the theoretical aspects will be presented and their performances will be highlighted.