Research and analysis on the rotation of high-voltage electric propulsion harnesses under low temperatures and complex trajectories

Abstract Spacecraft use electric propulsion to complete tasks such as position maintenance and orbit makeovers, requiring vector adjustment mechanisms to minimize the deviation between the thrust vector of the electric thruster and the spacecraft’s centre of mass. The harness provides high-voltage power to the electric thruster and needs to be coiled and rotated on the thrust vector adjustment mechanism. The bending torque of the high-voltage harness is one of the main factors that need to be considered in the design of the driving capacity of the vector adjustment mechanism. This article proposes a reliable rotation evaluation scheme for high-voltage harnesses in low-temperature environments and complex trajectories. The verification of high-voltage harness torsion times under a wide range of temperatures (-110°C~+150°C), two-dimensional rotation angles (A-axis −18°~+18°, B-axis −25°~+59°), and bending torque tests for high-voltage harness under temperature range combinations (-110°C~+150°C) have been completed. The analysis data shows that the bending torque of a high-voltage harness is monotonically related to the rotation angle and temperature and will increase with the increase of rotation angle and the decrease of temperature. The bending torque of a high-voltage harness is within the driving capacity range of the vector adjustment mechanism motor and can meet the requirements of task applications.