New Structures for Large Sensor Array Platforms

Second-order Augmentation of Lattice Trusses (SALT) is a unique configuration that promises to alleviate many constraints on the design of large deployable space structures, enabling more mass and packaging-efficient structures due to the effect of multi-tiered (higher-order structural hierarchy) latticing. In the Phase I SBIR study, ABLE Engineering performed analyses, design studies and testing to successfully demonstrate concept feasibility of the SALT system. The primary technical objective of the proposed Phase II program is to focus on hardware development and system implementation with the design, manufacture and build of a working multiple-bay Engineering Model (EM) of a CoilABLE boom that incorporates the SALT technology. Additionally, system-level analytical models will be developed that leverage off of the validated component-level models generated in Phase 1. These models will be used concurrently during the boom design process to allow system optimization, and will also be used to correlate the prototype performance testing. The EM hardware development and the validated analytic models of its behavior will effectively demonstrate system-level function and stiffness/strength performance, increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to 5. The successful completion of the proposed Phase II program will ready the SALT CoilABLE system for use on advanced missions.