Advancing spacecraft demisability through a novel composite bolt joint system: a step toward sustainable and safe space environments

From the recent awareness of the booming number of space debris and their derived worldwide re-entry event threat originating from the use of high survivability components, complementary mitigation measures must be taken for future orbital elements. In this direction, the implementation of a design for demise at an early stage of spacecraft conception allows a progressive and effective solution. As part of a collaborative effort launched by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the European Space Agency, we focus on the evaluation of polymer composite bolts as the main structural satellite panel fastening systems to improve the overall spacecraft demisability during its destructive re-entry into the atmosphere as compared to baseline critical systems, while maintaining equivalent mission-relevant properties. Two carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) designs were compared to a stainless steel baseline in terms of static properties at room temperature, dynamic properties over a temperature range, as well as demise capability by static re-entry simulation testing. The results led us to identify a promising short CF/PEEK composite bolt design.