Dust Tolerant Joint for In-Space Assembly

Cornerstone Research Group (CRG) proposes the development of a dust tolerant joint to facilitate reliable payload reconfiguration and automated in-space construction in regolith inundated environments. CRG will demonstrate a lightweight, mechanically robust joint capable of securing structures while exposed to regolith particles of similar size to what are known in various space environments such as the lunar surface. This state-of-the-art dust tolerable joint leverages CRGrsquo;s shape memory polymer (SMP) reversible joining system, which facilitates self-alignment, low dexterity operation, capture and lock features, electrical isolation, and connectivity feedback if desired. Additionally, CRGrsquo;s dust tolerant reversible joint provides a scalable, modular joining capability that can be used with autonomous assembly systems. In Phase I, CRG successfully demonstrated the functionality of the reversible joint in the presence of regolith simulant on the order of hundreds of cycles. Leveraging CRGrsquo;s prior development work on shape memory polymer fastening systems and mechanical design expertise, the proposed Ramp;D herein will provide a multifunctional dust tolerable reversible joint with technology readiness level (TRL) of 5 at the conclusion of the Phase II effort.