A flight opportunity for adaptive structures: UK-USA collaboration

The author describes a satellite called STRV-1 (Space Technology Research Vehicle 1), the main aim of which is to provide low-cost access to space for new and promising technologies. In order to stimulate more UK interest in adaptive structures and encourage collaboration and technology transfer, the USA has been offered a flight opportunity for an adaptive structure experiment aboard STRV-1. The paper describes the environment in which STRV-1 will operate (including van Allen belts and atomic oxygen), and describes the experiment