Abstract:
To keep pace with global advances in reusable spacecraft technology and promote the integration of technological and economic objectives, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) initiated a pilot study using a commercial communication satellite platform. For the first time, a dedicated evaluation focusing on reusability was conducted on the satellite’s primary structural qualification unit. The evaluation assessed the functional performance of the prototype-stage primary load-bearing cylinder and the specific characteristics of its composite materials. A hierarchical assessment process—ranging from material-level analysis to product-level testing—was applied. Key structural attributes, including fatigue strength and dimensional stability, were verified through systematically conducted tests. The results confirmed that the qualification unit meets the criteria for reuse in flight models. The study is expected to significantly reduce development costs and shorten development cycles, while also providing a technical reference for assessing the reusability of other composite structural components in spacecraft.