Structure
The structure serves to support the loads occurring in all critical satellite operations (transport, launch and separation). The elements that make up this subsystem are the trays, the separation bars, the shear panels, the side closure panels and the solar panel substrates. The consideration of the solar panel substrates as elements of the structure is due to the fact that they also fulfil a structural function which means that the loads transmitted to the solar cells, and consequently their deformation, are very low.
The materials used to manufacture the elements of the primary and secondary structure of the UPM-Sat 1 satellite, selected according to ESA standard PSS-01-701, were aluminium-zinc alloy (7075 T73, whose chemical composition is 5.6% Zn, 2.5% Mg, 1.6% Cu, 0.3% Cr and 90.0% Al), Hostaform C9021 (Delrin 07, thermoplastic copolymer acetate) and stainless steel screws.
