High-volumetric-efficiency inflatable-rigidizable booms for secondary support structures

Our proposed inflatable-rigidizable composite boom is an ideal application for secondary support structures for space telescope sunshades. The deployable boom combines the high volumetric compaction ratio of a pure fabric inflatable with the strength, stiffness and thermal stability of a high performance fused quartz glass fiber composite. Its compact deployment system is self contained and does not require solar or electrical energy to drive the rigidization process. The resulting boom structure is long lasting, dielectrically transparent and will not suffer catastrophic damage from micrometeoroids.