Ultralight Deployable Space Structure Prototype

Abstract

We present a lab demonstration of the packaging and deployment of an ultralight space structure prototype composed of thin shell longerons and battens. The prototype is integrated with a thin polyimide membrane which serves as mass representative of multi-functional elements that could be integrated into this type of deployable, such as integrated power collection and wireless transmission tiles for space solar power. A deployment mechanism using actively controlled pressure to package and deploy this structure ensuring its integrity is described. The deployable structure and deployment mechanism designs are scalable to 60 m X 60 m structures. The structure's mass scaling to larger sizes is described.