Solar Sail Tubular Mast

Opterus and the University of Colorado, Boulder propose Solar Sail Tubular Mast (SSTM), a lightweight version of our patented High Strain Composite (HSC) Trussed Collapsible Tubular Mast. SSTM represents a paradigm shift in deployable boom technology, poised to set high standards of structural efficiency, deployment simplicity, and cost-effectiveness for deployable boom systems. The SSTM represents a significant advancement in structural capabilities, transitioning from the modest structural efficiency of an open cross-section TRAC boom to the high performance of a trussed tape-spring boom. SSTM enables simple, low-risk solar sails up to the 10,000 msup2; scale and mitigates the need for complex guywire systems, spin-tensioning, or elaborate deployment mechanisms.nbsp; SSTM also achieves an exceptional mass-to-area ratio of 5 g/msup2; for both the sail and boom components. nbsp;SSTM booms are also inherently low cost because they are fabricated using automated and mold-based processes that greatly reduce manual/touch labor.