Our team originated from the Space Structure Systems Laboratory of Nihon University, which is now part of JAXA. Our teams provide services in the analysis, design and development of flexible space structures.

Our key technology is the analysis of flexible space structures. The non-linear elasto-dynamic analysis code which we call NEDA, was developed in the Lab, and used to simulate the membrane deployment of the small solar power sail IKAROS which was launched by JAXA in 2010. And it was a world’s first successful interplanetary voyage using a solar sail as the main propulsion system.

In addition our member have experience from design to operation of nano-satellite. this is the strong point of our team and we think we can provide good service better than other companies.

Making use of our key technology and experience, we provide the value of flexible structure to our customer. And keep pushing to realize the our philosophy what “Keep challenging, create together, bring hope for all”.

Space Structure Systems Laboratory

Space Structure Systems Laboratory which is predecessor of us, has begun in 1991.

Since the beginning of the research, the dynamics of gossamer structures has been studied. Through the research, NEDA which our key technology, has been developed by Miyazaki who has joined as our CTO. NEDA had used to simulate the dynamics of deployment membrane of small solar power sail IKAROS which had launched by JAXA in 2010.

In addition, Lab had studied deployment of inflatable tube, spinning sail, self-deployment truss. And now, Lab is studying application of gossamer structure like a large membrane antenna, starshade.

Furthermore on the other hand, Lab had developed 4 CubeSat which call for SEEDS (2006), SEED-Ⅱ(2008), SPROUT(2014), NEXUS(2019). And they are developing rectenna using self-deployment structure for space demonstration.

Do the all aspects of theory, analysis, experiments, development and demonstration. This is the Space Structure Systems Laboratory which is predecessor of us.

Gossamer Structure

Gossamer structure is made up of extremely flexible structure like a membrane and cable. This structure is lightweight, easy to deploy, easy to store due to the characteristic. So, This structure has studied for long time.

There is now only rocket that is capable of carrying payload, and there are some limit of weight and volume to transport at once. Gossamer structure can be stored in small size, which is an advantage when transporting to space. And if the way of transport has been changed, then this structure is better than the other structure in the point of reducing the cost of transport. So we think that for the large space structure of the future, this structure will be indispensable.

Typical examples of gossamer structures in Japan are HALCA(the radio astronomy satellite), IKAROS(the small solar power sail) and ETS-8(the engineering test satellite). Looking forward to the future, Starshade, Space Based Solar Power System and Large Solar Sail are considered.

However, realizing the gossamer structures is very difficult. Because of the characteristic of that structure, easily affected by air and gravity on the ground. So, it is necessary to analyze the dynamics of the structure, but the analyzing the dynamics is also difficult, due to the equation of motion become stiff.

So, gossamer structure is important for space structure on the other hand, there some technical issue at now. Therefore, to find the appropriate method of ground experiments and numerical method, a lot of studies are doing now in the world.

NEDA

Gossamer structure attracts attention as space structure in the future so far. But it is difficult to realize due to the some reason shown as above. In particular, numerical analysis using the conventional FEM tool is very difficult due to the numerical divergence is easily occur.

Our key technology for analyze the dynamics of gossamer structure which call for NEDA, can steadily analyze the dynamics of gossamer structure..

On the other hand, our NEDA uses the energy momentum method (EMM), a conserving dynamics, which enables simulations to be performed while satisfying the three principles. By modifying the equations of motion, the three principles can also be fulfilled in the simulation. Energy Momentum Method (EMM) which modify the equation of motion to satisfy the three principles of the incremental form, has applied to NEDA.

Thus, we can analyze the dynamics of gossamer structure with the high numerical stability.

• Address
  229 ROKUGOU BASE, 3-10-16 Minami Rokugo Ota-ku, 144-0045 Tokyo, Japan.
  
• By train
  13-minute walk from Rokkoudote Station on the Keikyu Main Line.