Development of Analysis Tools for a Jack Screw Deployed Articulated Spacecraft Boom

Deployable booms are critical in enhancing the ability of space borne systems to gather information by separating instruments from the spacecraft or by increasing antenna apertures to many times the size of the spacecraft. Examples of currently envisioned missions exist in both the commercial and military worlds. Deployable booms act as both deployment linear actuators to form the structure and, once fully extended form the deployed structure. In most cases spacecraft booms are designed and analyzed on a "one off" basis, that is, slow and inefficient. Access to space in a rapid manner would be enabled by developing analysis and design packages for booms to reduce the design and analysis cycle. Starsys Research is developing a new generation of articulated boom assemblies for space craft. The design and analysis time, as well as the accuracy of the results of the effort would be improved significantly by creating and validating tools for this sizing process.