To　improve　the　operation　stability　and　reliability,　the　effects　of　viscoelasticity　for　the　tape　spring　on　the　strain　energy,　critical　moment　and　steady　moment　exhibiting　in　the　folding　process　were　studied.　The　generalized　Maxwell　viscoelastic　model　was　used　to　establish　the　mechanical　model　of　the　tape　spring　and　numerical　simulation　was　carried　out　to　investigate　the　influence　of　different　folding　rates,　temperatures,　Prony　series　and　relaxation　times　on　critical　moment,　steady　moment　and　strain　energy　in　the　bending　process.　Results　show　that　the　strain　energy,　critical　moment　and　steady　moment　of　the　tape　spring　in　the　folding　process　cut　down　with　decreasing　folding　rate,　Prony　series　and　relaxation　time　and　increasing　temperature.　The　strain　energy　and　steady　moment　of　the　tape　spring　are　reduced　with　the　increase　of　the　stowage　time　and　gradually　reach　a　constant　value.　This　research　has　an　important　theoretical　reference　for　improving　the　design　reliability　of　space　deployable　structures.　©　2019,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.