Feature

• Capable of diameters from
   6 to 20 inches

• Capable of lengths from 1m to 100+m

• Stowed strain energy gives positive
   deployment force

• Flexible suite of design options
  • Multiple deployment/retraction methods
   available
  • Flexible electrical & mechanical interfaces
  • Can be made magnetically "clean"
  • Mid-length payload capacity

• Engineered for mass-production rate
   applications

• Compact mast stowage (2% of deployed length)

• Extreme light weight capability (<50 g/m)

• Excellent thermal stability

• Extremely repeatable deployment
   due to preloaded structure

• Design & interfaces can be optimized
   for spectific application needs

• High reliability, heritage deployment system

• Solar array deployment/retraction

• Magnetometer deployment/retraction

• Gravity gradient mass
   deployment/retraction

• Antenna deployment/retraction

• Instrumet deployment/retraction

• Solar-sail deployment


• Most common method of deployment

• Stowed strain energy drives deployment

• Tip-mounted lanyard controls the deployment
   via a damper or motor

• Boom tip rotates during deployment

• Least expensive method of controlled deployment

 


• Motor-driven, internally-threaded canister shell extrudes boom

• Stowed and transitioning portions of boom
   fully contained within canister

• Near full stiffness and strength throughout deployment

• Large deployment push force capability

• Remotely retractable as well as deployable

• Larger stowage volume and heavier
   than lanyard deployed booms

• No rotation during deployment

 


Longerons: Unidirectional S-glass epoxy
Circular cross section 1.5% of boom diameter

Battens: Unidirectional S-glass epoxy
Buckled compression members to preload structure
Diameter typically smaller than longeron diameter
Assembled into triangular frames

Diagonals: Unidirectional S-glass epoxy or SS cable depending on required stability
Tension elements to counter batten preload
Provide torsional & shear stiffness

Corner Fitting: Junction between longeron
batten & diagonals

Transition Zone: Boom section in mid-deployment,
between stowed & deployed states

Bay Length: Distance between batten frames
Typically 58% of boom diameter

Program

Customer

Deployment Method

Application

SAFE

LMSC/MSFC

Canister

Solar Array Deployment

Galileo

JPL

Lanyard/damper

Magnetometer Deployment

UARS

GE/GSFC

Lanyard/Motor/Retractable

Instrument

LACE

NRL

Canister

Instrument/Gravity Gradient

EUVE

Fairchild/GSFC

Lanyard/Motor

Antenna Deployment

GGS

Polar Martin/GSFC

Lanyard/Motor

Magnetometer Deployment

GGS

Wind Martin/GSFC

Lanyard/Motor

Magnetometer/Instrument

Mars Pathfinder

JPL/Martin/UAZ

Free

Camera Deployment

Cassini

JPL

Lanyard/Damper

Magnetometer

Lunar Prospector

Lockheed Martin

Lanyard/damper

Instrument Deployment

Mars Polar Lander

Lockheed Martin/JPL/UAZ

Free

Camera Deployment

Terra

TRW/Martin/GSFC

Canister

Solar Array Deployment

MIDEX/IMAGE

Umass Lowell/SWRI

Lanyard/damper

Dipole Antenna Deployment

Classified

Classified

Carousel

Instrument Deployment

GOES N and O***

Boeing

Lanyard/damper

Magnetometer Deployment

Triana***

Orbital/GSFC

Lanyard/damper

Magnetometer Deployment

*** Delivered but not flown as of August 2002