This is a video of a test on our first prototype of an aerobrake system. The system is being developed by Clyde Space and the University of Glasgow.
The objective is to deploy this 1m2 foil sail at the end of the mission to de-orbit the spacecraft using drag. The unit demonstrated here has dimensions of 10cm x 10cm x 3cm when in stowed configuration. Future prototypes are planned to be more compact so as to minimise volume required on the CubeSat. The ability to de-orbit spacecraft at the end of the mission is becoming increasingly important so that space debri is minimised for future space use. There is a continuing upwards trend in the number of space missions launched and this is likely to increase further in the future.
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