Space Science Education by Mathematica Demonstrations: Interactive Design of Moving Space Probe Elements Mechanics by Foldable and Extendable Structures for Space Applications

Introduction: By the interactive Mathematica Demonstrations of the Wolfram Research instrumentation [1], several mechanics for space probe operation and motion simulations were studied. The created great number of Mathematica demonstrations are available on the Wolfram Demonstration website.. About Mathematica: The possibilities of the newest version of Mathematica makes it excellent learning ability to interactively manipulating graphics for the movement and animation of modeling by using great number of parameters for the structure studied. Rich parametrization helps the architectures to fold, extend, unfold, retract, enlarge and diminish, rotate etc. The new possibilities generate new needs in costruction design. One of them is the stereoscopic view. But spatial motions extend spatial feeling and viewing. The movement representations give extended robotic motion planning opportunities. All these activities serve students in space science education and in design, too. Moving elements on terrestrial machines: Swash Plate Drive. A disk with adjustable inclination (swash plate) is attached to a rotating shaft. Rods, aligned with the axis, move back and forth as the disk rotates. This arrangement is used to drive pistons and to adjust the angle of helicopter rotor blades