Traditional spacecraft design has reached the limits of size and volume that current launchers allow. This is especially true for space telescopes (James Webb), where size is directly correlated with performance. A solution to this is on-orbit assembly, however some enabling technologies are insufficiently developed. One of the most important factors is the design of standardized interfaces for modular designs (only three existing designs). This thesis proposes a mechanical interface design - including data and electrical transfer - meant to allow the assembly of a modular platform (including all spacecraft subsystems except the mirror segments) upon which a support layer and a mirror layer can be built/assembled. The design presents a unique mechanism allowing for assembly outside of the platform plane direction, thus allowing disassembly of a minimal amount of modules in the event of servicing. Three different iterations of the design were considered, and simulations for both the assembly and assembled state have been performed in ANSYS. To compare performance with existing interfaces, a scaled down model was simulated. The results of the preliminary simulations show a performance increase of at least 200% for each load case. A physical prototype was manufactured and tested, however destructive testing was not performed.

This report presents the Final design of the Design Synthesis Exercise (DSE) to 'Capture a Small Asteroid and Change its Orbit' at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. The bachelor programme 'Aerospace Engineering' comprises several projects enabling students to explore aeronautics and space from different kinds of perspectives. The Design Synthesis Exercise serves as the conclusion to this programme. During this final project students integrate their previously obtained knowledge and skill to examine a specific design problem in groups of ten students for the duration of eleven weeks. This final report is the last in a series of four and documents the detailed design of the concept that was chosen in the mid-term report.