空间薄膜反射镜的研究发展现状

Current status and research development of space membrane reflectors

空间薄膜反射镜由于具有面密度低,易于折叠展开且成本低等优点很好地满足了空间反射镜的超轻量、超大口径的要求,因此在空间科学研究领域倍受关注。介绍了空间薄膜反射镜的发展,包括薄膜反射镜的理论基础,充气式薄膜反射镜和静电拉伸薄膜反射镜及其他类型的反射镜的代表成果。而后对空间薄膜反射镜的技术难点进行了分析;重点讨论了薄膜反射镜用聚酰亚胺薄膜的生产情况以及薄膜反射镜的面形控制、面形检测和反射镜支撑结构的设计。最后总结了反射镜近期的研制情况、存在的问题和应用发展趋势。认为空间薄膜反射镜作为国内外空间科学的热点,在未来的几十年内将在航天领域的太空望远镜、空间侦察相机、人造太阳、微波天线等方面得到广泛应用。

Space membrane reflectors have became promising mirrors for space science fields in recent years, for they are favorable properties in low area density, low producing costs and the reliability easy to fold and deploy. It is proved that the space membrane reflectors can meet the requirements of ultra lightweight and super-size space mirrors. In this paper, the development of membrane reflectors is introduced, including the theoretical foundation of membrane reflectors, the representative achievements of inflatable membrane reflec- tors and electrostatic stretch membrane reflectors and other kinds of membrane reflectors. Then, it puts the focuses on the discussion about the production status of polyimide （PI） films for membrane reflectors, and the shape control and shape tests of membrane reflectors, also the design of supporting structures of reflectors. In addition, it analyzes the technical difficulty for developing the space membrane reflectors and summarizes the development, application and current status of the membrane reflectors. From analysis and discussion reported here, it is clear that the space membrane reflectors will be widely used in space telescopes, space surveillance cameras, artificial suns and microwave antennas in the space science fields in the coming decades.