This paper describes development and ground testing of an unpowered mechanism intended to control deployment of a rollable spacecraft boom. The mechanism constrains the boom to a single deployment path and limits deployment speed. The strain energy of the boom is harnessed to drive deployment. Use of this mechanism is demonstrated with a collapsible tube mast boom, but it is suitable for use with any monostable boom. In the minimal unpowered strain-energy (MUSE) mechanism, a single roller presses against a coiled boom with enough force to prevent premature unwinding. The force also creates enough interlayer friction to prevent blossoming of the coiled boom. A rotary damper is used to limit deployment speed. The MUSE mechanism is tested with two damper types: a viscous damper and a centrifugal damper. To further characterize deployment, an energy model is used to predict deployment speeds. Predictions are compared to experimental deployment speed measurements. Both dampers are able to limit deployment speed. The MUSE mechanism reliably deploys rolled booms, and it is able to constrain the path and speed throughout deployment.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Minimal Unpowered Strain-Energy Deployment Mechanism for Rollable Spacecraft Booms: Ground Test


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2019-11-26


    Size :

    8 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Minimal Unpowered Strain-Energy Deployment Mechanism for Rollable Spacecraft Booms

    Firth, Jordan / Adamcik, Benjamin / Hannah, Elliott et al. | AIAA | 2019


    CORRUGATED ROLLABLE TUBULAR BOOMS

    Fernandez, Juan M. / Volle, Christopher E. | TIBKAT | 2021


    Corrugated Rollable Tubular Booms

    FERNANDEZ JUAN M | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access

    Corrugated Rollable Tubular Booms

    Fernandez, Juan M. / Volle, Christopher E. | AIAA | 2021


    Corrugated Rollable Tubular Booms (CORROTUBs)

    Juan “Johnny” M. Fernandez / Christopher E. Volle | NTRS